U.S. patent application number 11/233151 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-30 for interactive service system and method for controlling the same, multimedia content creating device and method for controlling the same, message transmitting device and method for controlling the same, message receiving device and method for controlling the same, data structure of sub-content, progra.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Toshihide Hagawa, Toshiyuki Iwai, Toru Ueda.
Application Number | 20060271995 11/233151 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37464970 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060271995 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hagawa; Toshihide ; et
al. |
November 30, 2006 |
Interactive service system and method for controlling the same,
multimedia content creating device and method for controlling the
same, message transmitting device and method for controlling the
same, message receiving device and method for controlling the same,
data structure of sub-content, program for controlling interactive
service system, program for controlling multimedia content creating
device, program for controlling message transmitting device,
program for controlling message receiving device, and recording
medium recording program
Abstract
In an interactive service system, a service provider has an AV
content combining/transmitting device for transmitting AV content
and an AV content related service providing device for receiving a
message, and a service requester has a mobile phone terminal for
reproducing the AV content received from the AV content
combining/transmitting device and then creating the message in
accordance with sub-content of the AV content to transmit the
message. The sub-content of the AV content transmitted from the AV
content combining/transmitting device includes destination data
indicating the destination of the message. The mobile phone
terminal transmits the message in accordance with the destination
data included in the sub-content.
Inventors: |
Hagawa; Toshihide;
(Chiba-shi, JP) ; Ueda; Toru; (Soraku-gun, JP)
; Iwai; Toshiyuki; (Ichihara-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Assignee: |
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
22-22, Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku
Osaka-shi
JP
545-8522
|
Family ID: |
37464970 |
Appl. No.: |
11/233151 |
Filed: |
September 23, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60685526 |
May 31, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
725/135 ;
348/E7.071; 725/112; 725/113 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/6181 20130101;
H04N 21/6118 20130101; H04N 21/41407 20130101; H04N 21/4227
20130101; H04N 7/17318 20130101; H04N 21/2393 20130101; H04N
21/47208 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
725/135 ;
725/112; 725/113 |
International
Class: |
H04N 7/16 20060101
H04N007/16; H04N 7/173 20060101 H04N007/173 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 22, 2005 |
JP |
2005-275130 |
Claims
1. An interactive service system in which (i) a service provider
transmits, to a service requester, multimedia content including
content and sub-content attached to the content, and (ii) the
service requestor transmits, to the service provider, a message
with respect to the multimedia content, the sub-content of the
multimedia content including destination data which indicates a
destination of the message, and the message being transmitted in
accordance with the destination data included in the
sub-content.
2. The interactive service system as set forth in claim 1, wherein
the content and sub-content included in the multimedia content are
transmitted to the service requestor through separate communication
paths.
3. The interactive service system as set forth in claim 1, wherein
the service requestor separates the content and sub-content
included in the multimedia content, and causes separate devices to
reproduce the content and the sub-content thus separated.
4. A multimedia content creating device comprising creating means
for creating multimedia content including content and sub-content
attached to the content, the sub-content including destination data
which indicates a destination of a message with respect to the
multimedia content.
5. The multimedia content creating device as set forth in claim 4,
wherein the destination data corresponds to the content.
6. The multimedia content creating device as set forth in claim 4,
wherein the sub-content further includes structure data which
indicates a structure of the message during creating the message at
a reproducing end for reproducing the multimedia content.
7. The multimedia content creating device as set forth in claim 6,
wherein the structure data includes data identifying information
for identifying a type of data included in the message.
8. The multimedia content creating device as set forth in claim 4
further comprising multimedia content transmitting means for
outwardly transmitting the multimedia content created by the
creating means.
9. The multimedia content creating device as set forth in claim 8,
wherein the multimedia content transmitting means transmits the
content and sub-content included in the multimedia content, through
separate communication paths.
10. The multimedia content creating device as set forth in claim 4
further comprising content identifying information transmitting
means for outwardly transmitting content identifying information
utilized for identifying the content.
11. A message transmitting device comprising: creating means for
creating a massage with respect to multimedia content including
content and sub-content attached to the content; transmitting means
for outwardly transmitting the message created by the creating
means; and sub-content acquiring means for acquiring the
sub-content of the multimedia content, the transmitting means
transmitting the message to a destination indicated by destination
data included in the sub-content acquired by the sub-content
acquiring means.
12. The message transmitting device as set forth in claim 11,
wherein the creating means creates the message in accordance with a
message structure indicated by structure data included in the
sub-content acquired by the sub-content acquiring means.
13. The message transmitting device as set forth in claim 12,
wherein: the structure data includes data identifying information
for identifying a type of data included in the message; and the
data included in the message transmitted from the transmitting
means is caused to correspond to the data identifying
information.
14. The message transmitting device as set forth in claim 11,
further comprising sub-content reproducing means for reproducing
the sub-content acquired by the sub-content acquiring means.
15. The message transmitting device as set forth in claim 14,
further comprising: content acquiring means for acquiring the
content of the multimedia content; and content reproducing means
for reproducing the content acquired by the content acquiring
means.
16. The message transmitting device as set forth in claim 15,
further comprising receiving means for receiving the content and
the sub-content, which are externally supplied, via separate
communication paths, the content acquiring means acquiring the
content through the receiving means, and the sub-content acquiring
means acquiring the sub-content through the receiving means.
17. The message transmitting device as set forth in claim 15,
further comprising switching means for switching between a
reproduction of the content by the content reproducing means and a
reproduction of the sub-content by the sub-content reproducing
means.
18. The message transmitting device as set forth in claim 17,
wherein the creating means adds, to the message, information
relating to time when the switching means switches from the
reproduction of the content to the reproduction of the
sub-content.
19. The message transmitting device as set forth in claim 11,
further comprising sub-content transmitting means for outwardly
transmitting the sub-content acquired by the sub-content acquiring
means.
20. The message transmitting device as set forth in claim 11,
further comprising reproduction instructing information
transmitting means for transmitting reproduction instructing
information causing the content corresponding to the sub-content
acquired by the sub-content acquiring means to be reproduced.
21. The message transmitting device as set forth in claim 11,
wherein the creating means adds, to the message, information for
specifying at least one of the message transmitting device and a
user of the message transmitting device.
22. The message transmitting device as set forth in claim 11,
wherein the creating means adds, to the message, content
identifying information utilized for identifying the content.
23. The message transmitting device as set forth in claim 22,
wherein: the content is AV data of a broadcasting program of a
predetermined channel; and the content identifying information
includes information of the channel and information relating to
time when the broadcasting program is broadcasted.
24. The message transmitting device as set forth in claim 22,
wherein: the content is transmitted in the form of a file; and the
content identifying information includes an identifier of the file
of the content and a time elapsed after a start time of a
reproduction of the content.
25. The message transmitting device as set forth in claim 22,
wherein the content identifying information includes part of the
content.
26. A message receiving device comprising: receiving means for
receiving a message with respect to multimedia content including
content and sub-content attached to the content; acquiring means
for acquiring content identifying information utilized for
identifying the content; and identifying means for identifying the
content, from the message received by the receiving means, by
utilizing the content identifying information.
27. The message receiving device as set forth in claim 26, wherein:
the content is AV data of a broadcasting program of a predetermined
channel; the acquiring means acquires, as the content identifying
information, broadcasting program information indicating the
broadcasting program and time when the broadcasting program is
broadcasted; and the identifying means identifies the content, from
information for identifying the channel and from information
indicating time when the broadcasting program is viewed, by
utilizing the broadcasting program information.
28. The message receiving device as set forth in claim 26, wherein:
the content is AV data of a broadcasting program of a predetermined
channel; the acquiring means acquires, as the content identifying
information, broadcasting program identifying information for
identifying the broadcasting program and scene identifying
information for identifying a scene in the broadcasting program;
and the identifying means identifies the content, from the
broadcasting program identifying information and scene identifying
information which are included in the message, by utilizing the
content identifying information.
29. The message receiving device as set forth in claim 26, wherein:
the content is transmitted in the form of a file; the acquiring
means acquires the file of the content as the content identifying
information; and the identifying means identifies the content, from
an identifier of the file of the content and a time elapsed after a
start time of a reproduction of the content, by utilizing the file
of the content, the identifier and the time being included in the
message.
30. The message receiving device as set forth in claim 26, wherein:
the acquiring means acquires the content as the content identifying
information; and the identifying means identifies the content, from
part of the content included in the message received by the
receiving means, by utilizing the content.
31. The message receiving device as set forth in claim 26, further
comprising storage means for storing data included in the message
received by the receiving means, wherein: in the message, the data
is caused to correspond to data identifying information for
identifying a type of the data; and the storage means stores the
data in accordance with the data identifying information.
32. The message receiving device as set forth in claim 26, further
comprising providing means for providing, to a sender of the
message, a service corresponding to the content identified by the
identifying means.
33. An interactive service system in which (i) a service provider
transmits, to a service requestor, multimedia content including
content and sub-content attached to the content, and (ii) the
service requester transmits, to the service provider, a message
with respect to the multimedia content, the service provider
including: a multimedia content creating device which creates the
multimedia content; and a message receiving device which receives
the message, and the service requestor including: a message
transmitting device which creates the message in accordance with
the sub-content of the multimedia content to transmit the message,
the multimedia content creating device including: creating means
for creating the multimedia content, the sub-content of the
multimedia content including destination data which indicates a
destination of the message with respect to the multimedia content,
the message transmitting device including creating means for
creating the massage with respect to the multimedia content;
transmitting means for outwardly transmitting the message thus
created; and sub-content acquiring means for acquiring the
sub-content of the multimedia content, the transmitting means
transmitting the message to the destination indicated by the
destination data included in the sub-content acquired by the
sub-content acquiring means the message receiving device including:
receiving means for receiving the message; acquiring means for
acquiring content identifying information utilized for identifying
the content; and identifying means for identifying the content,
from the message received by the receiving means, by utilizing the
content identifying information.
34. A data structure of sub-content attached to content,
comprising: structure data which indicates a structure of a message
with respect to multimedia content including the content and
sub-content; and destination data which indicates a destination of
the message.
35. The data structure as set forth in claim 34, wherein the
destination data corresponds to the content.
36. The data structure as set forth in claim 35, wherein the
structure data includes data identifying information for
identifying a type of data included in the message.
37. The data structure as set forth in claim 34 further comprising
content identifying information utilized for identifying the
content.
38. A method for controlling an interactive service system in which
(i) a service provider transmits, to a service requestor,
multimedia content including content and sub-content attached to
the content, and (ii) the service requestor transmits, to the
service provider, a message with respect to the multimedia content,
the service provider including: a multimedia content transmitting
device for transmitting the multimedia content; and a message
receiving device for receiving the message, the service requestor
including: a multimedia content reproducing device for reproducing
the multimedia content received from the multimedia content
transmitting device; and a message transmitting device for creating
the message in accordance with the sub-content of the multimedia
content to transmit the message, the method comprising the steps
of: causing the multimedia content transmitting device to transmit
the multimedia content, while the sub-content of the multimedia
content includes destination data which indicates a destination of
the message; and causing the message transmitting device to
transmit the message in accordance with the destination data
included in the sub-content.
39. A method for controlling a multimedia content creating device
which creates multimedia content including content and sub-content
attached to the content, the method comprising the step of adding,
to the sub-content, destination data indicating a destination of a
message with respect to the multimedia content.
40. A method for controlling a message transmitting device which
creates a message with respect to multimedia content including
content and sub-content attached to the content, so as to outwardly
transmit the message, the method comprising the steps of: acquiring
the sub-content of the multimedia content; and transmitting the
message to a destination indicated by destination data included in
the acquired sub-content.
41. A method for controlling a message receiving device which
receives a message with respect to multimedia content including
content and sub-content attached to the content, the method
comprising the steps of: acquiring content identifying information
utilized for identifying the content; and identifying the content,
from the received message, by utilizing the content identifying
information.
42. A program for controlling an interactive service system in
which (i) a service provider transmits, to a service requestor,
multimedia content including content and sub-content attached to
the content, and (ii) the service requestor transmits, to the
service provider, a message with respect to the multimedia content,
the service provider including: a multimedia content transmitting
device for transmitting the multimedia content; and a message
receiving device for receiving the message, the service requestor
including: a multimedia content reproducing device for reproducing
the multimedia content received from the multimedia content
transmitting device; and a message transmitting device for creating
the message in accordance with the sub-content of the multimedia
content to transmit the message, the program causing a computer to
execute the steps, in a method for controlling the interactive
service system, of: causing the multimedia content transmitting
device to transmit the multimedia content, while the sub-content of
the multimedia content includes destination data which indicates a
destination of the message; and causing the message transmitting
device to transmit the message in accordance with the destination
data included in the sub-content.
43. A program for controlling a multimedia content creating device
which creates multimedia content including content and sub-content
attached to the content, the program causing a computer to execute
a step, in a method for controlling the multimedia content creating
device, of adding, to the sub-content, destination data indicating
a destination of a message with respect to the multimedia
content.
44. A program for controlling a message transmitting device which
creates a message with respect to multimedia content including
content and sub-content attached to the content, so as to outwardly
transmit the message, the program causing a computer to execute the
steps, in a method for controlling the message transmitting device,
of: acquiring the sub-content of the multimedia content; and
transmitting the message to a destination indicated by destination
data included in the acquired sub-content.
45. A program for controlling a message receiving device which
receives a message with respect to multimedia content including
content and sub-content attached to the content, the program
causing a computer to execute the steps, in a method for
controlling the message receiving device, of: acquiring content
identifying information utilized for identifying the content; and
identifying the content, from the received message, by utilizing
the content identifying information.
46. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for
controlling an interactive service system in which (i) a service
provider transmits, to a service requestor, multimedia content
including content and sub-content attached to the content, and (ii)
the service requestor transmits, to the service provider, a message
with respect to the multimedia content, the service provider
including: a multimedia content transmitting device for
transmitting the multimedia content; and a message receiving device
for receiving the message, the service requester including: a
multimedia content reproducing device for reproducing the
multimedia content received from the multimedia content
transmitting device; and a message transmitting device for creating
the message in accordance with the sub-content of the multimedia
content to transmit the message, the program causing a computer to
execute the steps, in a method for controlling the interactive
service system, of: causing the multimedia content transmitting
device to transmit the multimedia content, while the sub-content of
the multimedia content includes destination data which indicates a
destination of the message; and causing the message transmitting
device to transmit the message in accordance with the destination
data included in the sub-content.
47. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for
controlling a multimedia content creating device which creates
multimedia content including content and sub-content attached to
the content, the program causing a computer to execute a step, in a
method for controlling the multimedia content creating device, of
adding, to the sub-content, destination data indicating a
destination of a message with respect to the multimedia
content.
48. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for
controlling a message transmitting device which creates a message
with respect to multimedia content including content and
sub-content attached to the content, so as to outwardly transmit
the message, the program causing a computer to execute the steps,
in a method for controlling the message transmitting device, of:
acquiring the sub-content of the multimedia content; and
transmitting the message to a destination indicated by destination
data included in the acquired sub-content.
49. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for
controlling a message receiving device which receives a message
with respect to multimedia content including content and
sub-content attached to the content, the program causing a computer
to execute the steps, in a method for controlling the message
receiving device, of: acquiring content identifying information
utilized for identifying the content; and identifying the content,
from the received message, by utilizing the content identifying
information.
Description
[0001] This Nonprovisional application claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Application No. 60/685,526 filed on May 31, 2005, and
claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119(a) on Patent Application
No. 2005-275130 filed in Japan on Sep. 22, 2005, the entire
contents of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an interactive service
system in which multimedia content including content and
sub-content attached to the content is transmitted from a service
provider to a service requestor and a message with respect to the
multimedia content is transmitted from the service requestor to the
service provider, a method for controlling the interactive service
system, a multimedia content creating device, a method for
controlling the multimedia content creating device, a message
transmitting device, a method for controlling the message
transmitting device, a message receiving device, a method for
controlling the message receiving device, a data structure of
sub-content, a program for controlling the interactive service
system, a program for controlling the multimedia content creating
device, a program for controlling the message transmitting device,
a program for controlling the message receiving device, and a
recording medium recording the program.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Currently, TV (television) broadcasting has been shifting
from analog broadcasting to digital broadcasting. Characteristics
of the digital broadcasting are realization of many channels, high
image quality, and high sound quality. In addition to these,
realization of data broadcasting is also one of the characteristics
of the digital broadcasting.
[0004] In the data broadcasting, a broadcasting company utilizes
airwaves of satellite TV broadcasting or ground wave TV
broadcasting so as to deliver data, such as a character, a program,
or the like, to a large number of unspecified terminals (TV
receivers). By utilizing (i) a function of the data broadcasting of
the broadcasting company and (ii) a information input function and
communication function of the terminal, it is possible to realize
an interactive service which allows a viewer to takes some actions
with respect to the TV broadcasting.
[0005] According to a conventional interactive service, AV (audio
visual) content and sub-content attached to the AV content are
transmitted to the terminal. The sub-content includes BML data
written in BML (Broadcast Markup Language). The terminal interprets
and executes the data to lay out and display broadcast content and
information attached to the broadcast content. Moreover, an
interaction with respect to the input from the terminal is executed
by an ECMA script included in the BML data. Then, data including
content of the input is transmitted to, for example, a BML response
server through a telephone line, the Internet, or the like.
[0006] In a two-way service aid system described in Document 1
(Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 171508/2002 (Tokukai
2002-171508, published on Jun. 14, 2002)), a broadcasting company
broadcasts data broadcasting program content including a two-way
service-use service scene, a service scene code (SSC) for
identifying the service scene related to the service scene, and a
service type corresponding to the SSC. A receiver of a viewer
receives the data broadcasting program content broadcasted by the
broadcasting company, and then transmits response data, including
the SSC and the service type, to a response server. The response
server refers to a memory to specify a server module corresponding
to the service type in the response data received from the
receiver, and then executes a process corresponding to the
specified server module.
[0007] Moreover, Document 2 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication
No. 343683/2004 (Tokukai 2004-343683, published on Dec. 2, 2004))
discloses a multimedia data processing device which can create
multimedia data easily.
[0008] However, in the two-way service aid system described in
Document 1, a destination of the response data is fixed to the
response server. On this account, for example, in the case in which
a CM production company would like to find out a public response
with respect to a CM created by the CM production company, the CM
production company needs to make a request to a two-way service
center having the response server, which costs somewhat. Meanwhile,
it is cumbersome for a user to specify the destination of the
message, and the user tends to fail to specify the destination.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention was made to solve the above problems,
and an object of the present invention is to provide, for example,
an interactive service system which allows a message to be
transmitted to a destination desired by the service provider.
[0010] In order to achieve the above object, an interactive service
system of the present invention is an interactive service system in
which (i) a service provider transmits to a service requestor
multimedia content including content and sub-content attached to
the content, and (ii) the service requestor transmits to the
service provider a message with respect to the multimedia content,
and the sub-content of the multimedia content includes destination
data which indicates a destination of the message and the message
is transmitted in accordance with the destination data included in
the sub-content.
[0011] According to the above arrangement, the sub-content of the
multimedia content transmitted from the service provider includes
the destination data indicating the destination of the message, and
the service requestor transmits the message in accordance with the
destination data included in the sub-content. With this, the
message can be surely transmitted to a destination desired by the
service provider. Therefore, in addition to a server which provides
the interactive service, the message can be transmitted to a server
of a broadcasting company, a CM production company, or the
like.
[0012] In order to achieve the above object, a multimedia content
creating device of the present invention includes creating means
for creating multimedia content including content and sub-content
attached to the content, and the sub-content includes destination
data which indicates a destination of a message with respect to the
multimedia content.
[0013] According to the above arrangement, the sub-content of the
multimedia content includes the destination data which indicates
the destination of the message with respect to the multimedia
content. In the case of creating and transmitting the message at a
reproducing end for reproducing the multimedia content, the message
is transmitted in accordance with the destination data. Therefore,
the message can be transmitted to a destination desired by a user
of the multimedia content creating device.
[0014] In order to achieve the above object, a message transmitting
device of the present invention includes: creating means for
creating a massage with respect to multimedia content including
content and sub-content attached to the content; transmitting means
for outwardly transmitting the message thus created; and
sub-content acquiring means for acquiring the sub-content of the
multimedia content, and the transmitting means transmits the
message to a destination indicated by destination data included in
the sub-content acquired by the sub-content acquiring means.
[0015] According to the above arrangement, the sub-content of the
multimedia content includes the destination data, and the
transmitting means transmits the message to the destination
indicated by the destination data. Therefore, it is possible to
transmit the message to a destination desired by a providing end
for providing the multimedia content.
[0016] In order to achieve the above object, a message receiving
device of the present invention includes: receiving means for
receiving a message with respect to multimedia content including
content and sub-content attached to the content; acquiring means
for acquiring content identifying information utilized for
identifying the content; and identifying means for identifying the
content, from the message received by the receiving means, by
utilizing the content identifying information.
[0017] According to the above arrangement, the identifying means
identifies the content corresponding to the message by utilizing
the content identifying information acquired by the acquiring
means. Therefore, it is possible to carry out a process
corresponding to the content identified by the identifying means in
accordance with the message received by the receiving means.
[0018] In order to achieve the above object, a data structure of
the sub-content of the present invention is a data structure of the
sub-content attached to the content, and includes: structure data
which indicates a structure of a message with respect to multimedia
content including the content and sub-content; and destination data
which indicates a destination of the message.
[0019] According to the above arrangement, the sub-content of the
multimedia content includes the destination data which indicates
the destination of the message with respect to the multimedia
content. In the case of creating and transmitting the message by
the reproducing end for reproducing the multimedia content, the
message is transmitted in accordance with the destination data.
Therefore, the message can be transmitted to a destination desired
by the creating end for creating the multimedia content.
[0020] In order to achieve the above object, in a method for
providing the interactive service by the interactive service system
arranged as above, a method for controlling an interactive service
system in accordance with the present invention includes the steps
of: transmitting the multimedia content by the multimedia content
transmitting device, the sub-content of the multimedia content
including destination data which indicates a destination of the
message; and transmitting the message by the message transmitting
device in accordance with the destination data included in the
sub-content.
[0021] According to the above method, the sub-content of the
multimedia content transmitted from the multimedia content
transmitting device includes the destination data indicating the
destination of the message, and the message transmitting device
transmits the message in accordance with the destination data
included in the sub-content. With this, the message can be surely
transmitted to a device desired by the service provider. Therefore,
in addition to a server which provides the interactive service, the
message can be transmitted to a server of a broadcasting company, a
CM production company, or the like.
[0022] In order to achieve the above object, a method of the
present invention for controlling a multimedia content creating
device controls the multimedia content creating device which
creates multimedia content including content and sub-content
attached to the content, and the method includes the step of
adding, to the sub-content, destination data indicating a
destination of a message with respect to the multimedia
content.
[0023] According to the above method, the sub-content of the
multimedia content includes the destination data which indicates
the destination of the message with respect to the multimedia
content. In the case of creating and transmitting the message at
the reproducing end for reproducing the multimedia content, the
message is transmitted in accordance with the destination data.
Therefore, the message can be transmitted to a destination desired
by the multimedia content creating device.
[0024] In order to achieve the above object, a method of the
present invention for controlling a message transmitting device
controls the message transmitting device which creates a message
with respect to multimedia content including content and
sub-content attached to the content, so as to outwardly transmit
the message, and the method includes the steps of: acquiring the
sub-content of the multimedia content; and transmitting the message
to a destination indicated by destination data included in the
acquired sub-content.
[0025] According to the above method, the sub-content of the
multimedia content includes the destination data, and the message
is transmitted to a destination indicated by the destination data.
Therefore, the message can be transmitted to a destination desired
by the providing end for providing the multimedia content.
[0026] In order to achieve the above object, a method of the
present invention for controlling a message receiving device
controls the message receiving device which receives a message with
respect to multimedia content including content and sub-content
attached to the content, and the method includes the steps of:
acquiring content identifying information utilized for identifying
the content; and identifying the content, from the received
message, by utilizing the content identifying information.
[0027] According to the above method, the content corresponding to
the message is identified in the identifying step by utilizing the
content identifying information acquired in the acquiring step.
Therefore, it is possible to carry out a process corresponding to
the identified content in accordance with the received message.
[0028] Additional objects, features, and strengths of the present
invention will be made clear by the description below. Further, the
advantages of the present invention will be evident from the
following explanation in reference to the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic arrangement of
an interactive service system of one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0030] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic arrangement of
an AV content creating device in the interactive service
system.
[0031] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic arrangement of
an AV content combining/transmitting device in the interactive
service system.
[0032] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic arrangement of
a mobile phone terminal in the interactive service system.
[0033] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic arrangement of
an AV content related service providing device in the interactive
service system.
[0034] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a data structure of AV content
utilized in the interactive service system.
[0035] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing one example of a sub-content
included in the AV content, the sub-content shown by data written
in XML.
[0036] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing one example of an HTML document
included in the sub-content, the HTML document shown by data
written in HTML.
[0037] FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) are diagrams showing one example of
display screen images based upon the AV content. FIG. 9(a) shows a
main screen image, and FIG. 9(b) shows a search screen image.
[0038] FIG. 10 is a timing chart showing timings for transmitting
AV data and the sub-content included in the AV content.
[0039] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a structure of a message
created by the mobile phone terminal and one example of the
message.
[0040] FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing processing operations
carried out by the mobile phone terminal.
[0041] FIG. 13 shows a process sequence showing processes of
respective devices in the interactive service system and data flow
among the devices.
[0042] FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a schematic arrangement
of an interactive service system of another embodiment of the
present invention.
[0043] FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a schematic arrangement
of an AV content creating/transmitting device in the interactive
service system.
[0044] FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a schematic arrangement
of an AV content reproducing device in the interactive service
system.
[0045] FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a schematic arrangement
of an AV content related service providing device in the
interactive service system.
[0046] FIG. 18 is a time chart showing one example of broadcasting
program IDs and scene IDs utilized in the interactive service
system.
[0047] FIG. 19 is a diagram showing one example of sub-content
included in the AV content, the sub-content shown by data written
in XML.
[0048] FIG. 20 is a diagram showing one example of an HTML document
included in the sub-content, the HTML document shown by data
written in HTML.
[0049] FIGS. 21(a) and 21(b) are diagrams showing one example of
display screen images based upon the AV content.
[0050] FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a structure of a message
created by the AV content reproducing device and one example of the
message.
[0051] FIG. 23 is a flow chart showing processing operations
carried out by the AV content reproducing device.
[0052] FIG. 24 is a flow chart showing details of processing
operations for creating and transmitting the message in the
processing operations.
[0053] FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing a schematic arrangement
of an interactive service system of still another embodiment of the
present invention.
[0054] FIG. 26 is a block diagram showing a schematic arrangement
of an AV content creating/transmitting device in the interactive
service system.
[0055] FIG. 27 is a block diagram showing a schematic arrangement
of a sub-content reproducing device in the interactive service
system.
[0056] FIG. 28 is a block diagram showing a schematic arrangement
of an AV data reproducing device in the interactive service
system.
[0057] FIG. 29 is a block diagram showing a schematic arrangement
of an AV content related service providing device in the
interactive service system.
[0058] FIG. 30 is a diagram showing one example of the sub-content
shown by data written in XML.
[0059] FIG. 31 is a diagram showing one example of an HTML document
included in the sub-content, the HTML document shown by data
written in HTML.
[0060] FIG. 32(a) is a diagram showing one example of a display
screen image based upon AV data. FIG. 32(b) is a diagram showing
one example of a display screen image based upon the
sub-content.
[0061] FIG. 33 is a diagram showing a structure of a message
created by the sub-content reproducing device and one example of
the message.
[0062] FIG. 34 is a flow chart showing processing operations
carried out by the sub-content reproducing device.
[0063] FIG. 35 is a flow chart showing processing operations
carried out by the AV data reproducing device.
[0064] FIG. 36 is a block diagram showing a schematic arrangement
of an interactive service system of yet another embodiment of the
present invention.
[0065] FIG. 37 is a diagram showing one example of sub-content
utilized in the interactive service system, the sub-content shown
by data written in XML.
[0066] FIG. 38 is a diagram showing one example of an HTML document
included in the sub-content, the HTML document shown by data
written in HTML.
[0067] FIGS. 39(a) and 39(b) are diagrams showing one example of
display screen images based upon the AV content. FIG. 39(a) shows a
main screen image, and FIG. 39(b) shows a question screen
image.
[0068] FIG. 40 is a diagram showing, in the form of a table, one
example of broadcasting program information stored in a
broadcasting program information storing section in the AV content
related service providing device shown in FIG. 5.
[0069] FIG. 41 is a diagram showing, in the form of a table, one
example of a database stored in an input content storage section in
the AV content related service providing device.
[0070] FIG. 42 is a diagram showing, in the form of a table, one
example of a database stored in a shop information storage section
in the AV content related service providing device.
[0071] FIG. 43 is a flow chart showing processing operations
carried out by the AV content related service providing device.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
Embodiment 1
[0072] The following explains one embodiment of the present
invention in reference to FIGS. 1 to 13. FIG. 1 shows a schematic
arrangement of an interactive service system of the present
embodiment. An interactive service system 10 provides a service
which allows a user of a mobile phone terminal to search for a shop
which is advertised by a CM displayed on the mobile phone terminal
and is located near the mobile phone terminal. FIG. 13 shows a
process sequence showing processes of devices in the interactive
service system 10 and data flow among the devices.
[0073] As shown in FIG. 1, the interactive service system 10 is
arranged so that an AV content creating device (multimedia content
creating device) 11, an AV content combining/transmitting device
(multimedia content transmitting device, multimedia content
creating device) 12, one or a plurality of mobile phone terminals
(AV content reproducing devices, multimedia content reproducing
devices, message transmitting devices) 14, and an AV content
related service providing device (message receiving device) 15 are
communicably connected with each other through a communication
network 16. The mobile phone terminal 14 has a function of
receiving AV content (multimedia content) from the AV content
combining/transmitting device 12 through a relay station 13 to
reproduce the AV content.
[0074] Note that in the present embodiment, a CM production company
owns the AV content creating device 11 and the AV content related
service providing device 15, a broadcasting company owns the AV
content combining/transmitting device 12 and the relay station 13,
and a viewer owns the mobile phone terminal 14. Moreover,
well-known communication networks can be used as the communication
network 16, such as a mobile communication network, a telephone
network, the Internet, a LAN (Local Area Network), etc.
[0075] The AV content creating device 11 creates AV content
including CM-use AV data and sub-content, the CM-use AV data being
reproduced as a video and audio of a CM (S10 in FIG. 13). Then, the
AV content creating device 11 transmits the created AV content to
the AV content combining/transmitting device 12 through the
communication network 16 (S11 in FIG. 13).
[0076] The AV content combining/transmitting device 12 combines the
AV content, received from the AV content creating device 11, with
broadcasting program-use AV data to be reproduced as a video and
audio of a TV program (S12 in FIG. 13). Then, the AV content
combining/transmitting device 12 transmits broadcasting program
information, indicating a broadcasting time of the AV content, to
the AV content related service providing device 15 (S13 in FIG.
13). The AV content combining/transmitting device 12 broadcasts the
combined AV content in a predetermined period of time through the
relay station 13 (S14 in FIG. 13).
[0077] The AV content is so arranged as to include AV data and
sub-content attached to the AV data. Moreover, the sub-content may
include reproduction data reproduced in conjunction with the AV
data or reproduction data reproduced independently of the AV data.
Further, the sub-content may include a set of reproduction data or
a plurality of sets of reproduction data.
[0078] In the present embodiment, the AV data is AV data obtained
by combining the CM-use AV data and the broadcasting program-use AV
data, and is streaming data that is the received data reproduced in
real time. Moreover, the sub-content is attached to the CM-use AV
data, and includes (i) layout designating data which switches
between a CM screen image for displaying a CM and a search screen
image for carrying out searching, and which designates a display
layout, (ii) destination data indicating a structure and
destination of a message transmitted from the mobile phone terminal
14 to the AV content related service providing device 15, and (iii)
data for specifying the AV data. Note that the sub-content attached
to the broadcasting program-use AV data may be included in the AV
content.
[0079] In the present embodiment, the mobile phone terminal 14 has
a function of utilizing GPS (Global Positioning Systems) to acquire
latitude/longitude information indicating latitude and longitude of
the mobile phone terminal 14 itself. The mobile phone terminal 14
receives the AV content from the AV content combining/transmitting
device 12, and then reproduces the received AV content. That is,
the mobile phone terminal 14 displays either the CM screen image or
the search screen image in accordance with the designated display
layout, and switches to the other screen image in accordance with
an operation carried out by a user (S15 in FIG. 13).
[0080] Here, when the viewer (user of the mobile phone terminal 14)
selects a search button on the search screen image, the mobile
phone terminal 14 creates a message in accordance with data
indicating the structure of the data (S16 in FIG. 13). The message
includes: personal information (for example, address, name, etc.)
and mail address set up in advance in an AV content reproducing
device 74; current positional information of the mobile phone
terminal 14; and information for specifying the CM. In the present
embodiment, channel information indicating currently viewed channel
and screen image switched time information indicating time of
switching of the screen image to the search screen image are
utilized as the information for specifying the CM. Then, the mobile
phone terminal 14 transmits the created message in accordance with
data indicating the destination (in an example shown in FIG. 1, the
AV content related service providing device 15) of the message (S17
in FIG. 13).
[0081] The AV content related service providing device 15 searches
for shop information in accordance with the message received from
the mobile phone terminal 14, and then sends a search result back
to the mobile phone terminal 14. Thus, the viewer can find where
the nearby shop advertised by the CM is.
[0082] Moreover, because the sub-content of the AV content created
by the AV content creating device 11 includes destination data
indicating that the destination is the AV content related service
providing device 15, the message from the mobile phone terminal 14
can be received by a device desired by the CM production company.
As a result, the CM production company can directly provide various
services, based upon a content of the message, to the user of the
mobile phone terminal 14, directly collect feedbacks from the user
of the mobile phone terminal 14 about the CM, or the like.
[0083] Moreover, because the user of the mobile phone terminal 14
needs not input the destination of the message, it is possible to
cut out the need of input and prevent missending the message due to
an inputting error.
[0084] The following explains in detail respective members in the
interactive service system 10 of the present embodiment.
[0085] FIG. 2 shows a schematic arrangement of the AV content
creating device 11. As described above, the AV content creating
device 11 creates the AV content including the CM-use AV data and
the sub-content attached to the CM-use AV data, the CM-use AV data
being reproduced as a video and audio of a CM. As shown in FIG. 2,
the AV content creating device 11 is so arranged as to include an
AV data storage section 20, a sub-content storage section 21, an AV
content creating section (creating means) 22, and an AV content
transmitting section (multimedia content transmitting means)
23.
[0086] The AV data storage section 20 stores a set of or a
plurality of sets of CM-use AV data created in advance by the CM
production company. The sub-content storage section 21 stores
various sub-content attached to the CM-use AV data, the sub-content
being created in advance by the CM production company. The AV data
storage section 20 and the sub-content storage section 21 include a
memory device, such as a HDD (Hard Disc Drive). Note that details
about the sub-content are described later.
[0087] The AV content creating section 22 retrieves desired CM-use
AV data from the AV data storage section 20, and also retrieves
sub-content corresponding to the CM-use AV data from the
sub-content storage section 21, so as to create AV content
including the CM-use AV data and the sub-content. The AV content
creating section 22 transmits the created AV content to the AV
content transmitting section 23. The AV content creating section 22
is realized by causing a CPU to execute a program stored in a
memory device, such as a RAM, a flash memory, or the like.
[0088] The AV content transmitting section 23 transmits the AV
content, received from the AV content creating section 22, to the
AV content combining/transmitting device 12 through the
communication network 16.
[0089] Note that the sub-content storage section 21 may store (i)
the sub-content whose message destination is not specified and (ii)
a message destination corresponding to the CM-use AV data. In this
case, the AV content creating section 22 retrieves desired CM-use
AV data from the AV data storage section 20, and also retrieves the
message destination corresponding to the CM-use AV data and the
sub-content from the sub-content storage section 21. Then, the AV
content creating section 22 incorporates the message destination in
the sub-content, and create the AV content including the
sub-content and the CM-use AV data.
[0090] With this, since the CM production company can change the
message destination for each CM, it is possible to provide services
different for different CMs or to collect feedbacks for respective
CMs from the users.
[0091] FIG. 3 shows a schematic arrangement of the AV content
combining/transmitting device 12. As described above, the AV
content combining/transmitting device 12 combines the AV content,
received from the AV content creating device 11, with the
broadcasting program-use AV data to be reproduced as a video and
audio of a TV program, and then the AV content
combining/transmitting device 12 broadcasts the combined AV content
in a predetermined period of time through the relay station 13. As
shown in FIG. 3, the AV content combining/transmitting device 12 is
so arranged as to include an AV content receiving section 30, an AV
data storage section 31, an AV content combining section (creating
means) 32, a timer section 33, an AV content transmitting section
(multimedia content transmitting means) 34, a broadcasting program
information creating section (content identifying information
transmitting means) 35, and a broadcasting program information
transmitting section (content identifying information transmitting
means) 36.
[0092] The AV content receiving section 30 receives the AV content
from the AV content creating device 11 through the communication
network 16. The AV content receiving section 30 transmits the
received AV content to the AV content combining section 32.
[0093] The AV data storage section 31 stores a set of or a
plurality of sets of broadcasting program-use AV data created in
advance by the broadcasting company. The AV data storage section 31
includes a memory device, such as a HDD (Hard Disc Drive).
[0094] The AV content combining section 32 retrieves desired
broadcasting program-use AV data from the AV data storage section
31 to combine the retrieved broadcasting program-use AV data with
the AV content received from the AV content creating device 11
through the communication network 16 and the AV content receiving
section 30. Specifically, the CM-use AV data is inserted between
the broadcasting program-use AV data. Broadcasting hours of the
broadcasting program and broadcasting hours of the CM(s) are
specified at this point.
[0095] The AV content combining section 32 transmits the combined
AV content to the AV content transmitting section 34. Moreover, the
AV content combining section 32 transmits information about the
specified broadcasting hours of the broadcasting program and the
CM(s) to the broadcasting program information creating section 35.
The AV content combining section 32 is realized by causing a CPU to
execute a program stored in a memory device, such as a RAM, a flash
memory, or the like.
[0096] Note that it is preferable that an AV content storage
section (not shown) for storing the AV content from the AV content
creating device 11 be provided between the AV content receiving
section 30 and the AV content combining section 32. In this case,
the AV content combining section 32 combines the broadcasting
program-use AV data with the AV content from the AV content
creating device 11 at a desired timing.
[0097] The timer section 33 measures time. The timer section 33
transmits time information of measured time to the AV content
transmitting section 34.
[0098] The AV content transmitting section 34 transmits the AV
content, received from the AV content combining section 32, to the
relay station 13 in accordance with the time information received
from the timer section 33. Thus, the AV content is broadcasted from
the relay station 13. FIG. 10 shows timings for transmitting the AV
data and the sub-content included in the AV content. As shown in
FIG. 10, the AV content combining/transmitting device 12 constantly
transmits the AV data as stream data, and also transmits the
sub-content at various timings.
[0099] In FIG. 3, the broadcasting program information creating
section 35 creates broadcasting program information in accordance
with information of the broadcasting hours of the broadcasting
program and the CM, the information received from the AV content
combining section 32. The broadcasting program information creating
section 35 transmits the created broadcasting program information
to the broadcasting program information transmitting section
36.
[0100] The broadcasting program information transmitting section 36
transmits the broadcasting program information, received from the
broadcasting program information creating section 35, to the AV
content related service providing device 15 through the
communication network 16.
[0101] FIG. 4 shows a schematic arrangement of the mobile phone
terminal 14. As shown in FIG. 4, the mobile phone terminal 14 is so
arranged as to include a control section 40, a memory section 41,
an input section 42, an output section 43, an AV content receiving
section (receiving means) 44, a communication section (receiving
means) 45, and a positional information acquiring section 46.
[0102] The control section 40 totally controls various members in
the mobile phone terminal 14. Functions of the control section 40
are realized by causing a CPU to execute a program stored in a
memory device, such as a RAM, a flash memory, or the like. Note
that details about the control section 40 are described later.
[0103] The memory section 41 stores various information. The memory
section 41 includes, for example, a flash memory, a HDD, or the
like. In the present embodiment, the memory section 41 stores
terminal setting information 47. The terminal setting information
47 includes: personal identifying information, such as user's
address, name, age, occupation, etc.; and terminal identifying
information, such as the telephone number, the e-mail address, etc.
of the mobile phone terminal 14.
[0104] The input section 42 accepts user's input(s) of various
information, such as selection information, instruction
information, textual information, etc. The input section 42 is
exemplified by a keyboard, a numeric keypad, a pointing device,
etc. The input section 42 generates an input signal in accordance
with the user's input, and then transmits the input signal to the
control section 40.
[0105] The output section 43 outputs various information, such as a
character, an image, an audio, etc. Specifically, the output
section 43 includes (i) a display device, such as an LCD (Liquid
Crystal Display), an EL (Electroluminescence) display, a PDP
(Plasma Display Panel), or the like, for displaying various
information, such as the character, the image, etc., and (ii) an
audio output device, such as an earphone, a speaker, or the like.
The user can watch the image (including a still image and a moving
image) and the character outputted by the output section 43, and
listen to an audio and a music outputted by the output section
43.
[0106] The AV content receiving section 44 receives an electric
wave of the AV content from the relay station 13, carries out a
predetermined treatment with respect to the received AV content,
and then transmits the AV content to the control section 40.
[0107] The communication section 45 converts data, received from
the control section 40, to a form suitable for data communication,
and then transmits the converted signal to the communication
network 16. Moreover, the communication section 45 converts a
signal, received from the communication network 16, to the original
form, and then transmits the converted data to the control section
40.
[0108] The positional information acquiring section 46 acquires
positional information of a current position of the mobile phone
terminal 14. The positional information acquiring section 46
transmits the acquired positional information to the control
section 40. In the present embodiment, a method for acquiring the
positional information is a method for acquiring the
latitude/longitude information of a current position of the mobile
phone terminal 14 by utilizing GPS (Global Positioning Systems),
however it is possible to utilize arbitrary methods, such as a
method for inputting a current address of the mobile phone terminal
14 by the user using the input section 42, a method for utilizing
an address of a base station which wirelessly communicates with the
mobile phone terminal 14, etc.
[0109] The following explains details about the control section 40.
As shown in FIG. 4, the control section 40 is so arranged as to
include an AV content analyzing section (sub-content acquiring
means, content acquiring means) 50, a browser section 51, a layout
instructing section (switching means) 52, a timing control section
53, a reproducing section (sub-content reproducing means, content
reproducing means) 54, a message creating section (creating means,
transmitting means) 55, and a reply message acquiring section
56.
[0110] The AV content analyzing section 50 analyzes the AV content
acquired from the AV content combining/transmitting device 12
through the relay station 13 and the AV content receiving section
44. Specifically, the AV content analyzing section 50 identifies
the AV data from the acquired AV content to transmit the AV data to
the reproducing section 54. Moreover, the AV content analyzing
section 50 identifies the sub-content from the acquired AV content,
analyzes the sub-content, and gives various instructions to the
browser section 51, the layout instructing section 52, and the
timing control section 53 in accordance with an analysis result of
the sub-content.
[0111] FIG. 6 shows an arrangement of the AV content utilized in
the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, AV content (multimedia
content) D10 is so arranged as to include AV data (content) D11 and
sub-content D12. Further, the sub-content D12 is so arranged as to
include layout information D13 concerning a display layout of a
screen, message destination information (destination data) D14
indicating a destination of a message, and message structure
information (structure data) D15 indicating a structure of the
message.
[0112] The layout information D13 is so arranged as to include
layout designating information D16 for designating the display
layout of the screen, and display content designating information
D17 for designating display content. The message structure
information D15 includes AV data identifying information (ID)
(content identifying information) D18 for specifying the AV
data.
[0113] In FIG. 4, the AV content analyzing section 50 transmits
information concerning layout to the layout instructing section 52,
information concerning an HTML document and a message to the
browser section 51, and information concerning a display timing to
the timing control section 53.
[0114] The browser section 51 creates display data in accordance
with HTML data included in the sub-content D12. The browser section
51 (i) accesses a site through the communication section 45 and the
communication network 16 in accordance with an URL designated by
the sub-content D12, (ii) acquires various data, such as HTML data,
image data, etc., from the outside, and (iii) creates the display
data in accordance with the acquired data. The browser section 51
transmits the created display data to the reproducing section 54.
Further, the browser section 51 transmits the information
concerning a message, included in the sub-content D12, to the
message creating section 55 in accordance with an instruction given
from the input section 42.
[0115] The layout instructing section 52 gives an instruction
concerning the display layout to the reproducing section 54 in
accordance with the information concerning layout received from the
AV content analyzing section 50. Moreover, the timing control
section 53 controls the display timing of the reproducing section
54 in accordance with the information concerning display timing
received from the AV content analyzing section 50. The display
timing is controlled in the case in which a plurality of display
content designations are in the sub-content and the display content
designation changes over time.
[0116] The reproducing section 54 decodes the AV data received from
the AV content analyzing section 50, and then reproduces the
decoded data and the display data, received from the browser
section 51, in accordance with the instruction given from the
layout instructing section 52 and the control carried out by the
timing control section 53. The reproducing section 54 transmits the
reproduced data to the output section 43, so that the output
section 43 displays the data.
[0117] The message creating section 55 creates a message in
accordance with the information concerning message received from
the browser section 51, the terminal setting information 47 stored
in the memory section 41, and the latitude/longitude information
acquired by the positional information acquiring section 46. The
message creating section 55 transmits the created message to the AV
content related service providing device 15 through the
communication section 45 and the communication network 16.
[0118] The reply message acquiring section 56 acquires a reply
message through the communication network 16 and the communication
section 45, the reply message being created by the AV content
related service providing device 15 as a reply to the message
created by the message creating section 55. The reply message
acquiring section 56 outputs the acquired reply message for the
user by using the browser section 51, the reproducing section 54,
and the output section 43.
[0119] FIG. 5 shows a schematic arrangement of the AV content
related service providing device 15. As shown in FIG. 5, the AV
content related service providing device 15 is so arranged as to
include a broadcasting program information receiving section
(acquiring means) 60, a message receiving section (receiving means)
61, a message analyzing section (acquiring means) 62, a
broadcasting program information judging section (identifying
means) 63, an input content storage section (storage means) 64, a
shop information storage section 65, a message replying section
(providing means) 66 and a broadcasting program information storage
section 67.
[0120] The broadcasting program information receiving section 60
receives the broadcasting program information, created by the AV
content combining/transmitting device 12, through the communication
network 16. The broadcasting program information receiving section
60 transmits the received broadcasting program information to the
broadcasting program information storage section 67.
[0121] The broadcasting program information storage section 67
stores the broadcasting program information received from the
broadcasting program information receiving section 60. FIG. 40
shows, in the form of a table, one example of the broadcasting
program information stored in the broadcasting program information
storage section 67. As shown in FIG. 40, the broadcasting program
information includes broadcasting date and hour, a broadcasting
time, a channel identifier and a product name. The broadcasting
program information is transmitted from the AV content
combining/transmitting device 12 to the AV content related service
providing device 15. Note that in the case in which the CM
production company creates only a CM for one product, it is
possible to omit the product name in FIG. 40.
[0122] Note that the channel identifier shown in FIG. 40 is a
unique ID for specifying the channel. This is because it is
necessary to specify at which channel the AV content (CM) is
scheduled to be broadcasted in the case in which the broadcasting
company simultaneously broadcasts a plurality of broadcasting
programs by utilizing a plurality of channels.
[0123] Therefore, in the case in which the broadcasting company
carries out broadcasting by utilizing only one channel, it is
possible to omit the channel identifier from the broadcasting
program information which is transmitted from the AV content
combining/transmitting device 12 to the AV content related service
providing device 15. In this case, the AV content related service
providing device 15 only have to specify the broadcasting company
that is the sender, and add, to the broadcasting program
information, the channel identifier corresponding to the specified
broadcasting company. Moreover, in the case in which channel
numbers do not change depending on areas, it is possible to use the
channel number as the channel identifier.
[0124] The message receiving section 61 receives the message,
created by the mobile phone terminal 14, through the communication
network 16. The message receiving section 61 transmits the received
message to the message analyzing section 62.
[0125] The message analyzing section 62 analyzes the message
received from the message receiving section 61. The message
analyzing section 62 transmits various information, included in the
message, to various blocks. Specifically, the message analyzing
section 62 transmits (i) the screen image switched time information
and the channel information (channel identifier) to the
broadcasting program information judging section 63, (ii) the
terminal setting information 47 and the latitude/longitude
information to the input content storage section 64, and (iii) the
latitude/longitude information and the mail address of a message
sender to the message replying section 65.
[0126] The broadcasting program judging section 63 specifies a CM
in accordance with the screen image switched time information and
channel information received from the message analyzing section 62
and the broadcasting program information stored in the broadcasting
program information storage section 67. The broadcasting program
information judging section 63 stores information of the specified
CM and the broadcasting program information in the input content
storage section 64. In addition, the broadcasting program
information judging section 63 transmits the information of the
specified CM to the message replying section 66.
[0127] The input content storage section 64 associates the terminal
setting information 47 and the latitude/longitude information,
received from the message analyzing section 62, with the
information of the CM and the broadcasting program information
received from the broadcasting program information judging section
63, so as to store those information therein. Thus, the CM
production company can find out where the viewer who watched and
was interested in a CM is and what time the CM was broadcasted.
[0128] FIG. 41 is shows, in the form of a table, one example of a
database stored in the input content storage section 64. The input
content storage section 64 stores databases different for different
CMs. The database shown in FIG. 41 is one example of a database of
a convenience store "NINE FIVE". The database stores the channel
information (channel identifier) included in the message, the
switched time information, and the latitude/longitude
information.
[0129] The shop information storage section 65 stores the shop
information which includes information for specifying a shop, such
as the name of the shop, and the latitude/longitude information of
the shop. Note that the input content storage section 64 and the
shop information storage section 65 include a memory device, such
as a flash memory, a HDD, or the like.
[0130] FIG. 42 shows, in the form of a table, one example of a
database stored in the shop information storage section 65 in the
present embodiment. The shop information storage section 65 stores
databases different for different CMs. The database shown in FIG.
42 is one example of a database of the convenience store "NINE
FIVE". The database includes a shop name, a longitude and latitude
of a location of the shop.
[0131] The message replying section 66 creates the reply message as
a reply to the received message. The message replying section 66
transmits the created reply message through the communication
network 16 to the mobile phone terminal 14 that is the message
sender.
[0132] In the present embodiment, the message replying section 66
judges whether the CM utilizes the shop information, in accordance
with the CM specified by the broadcasting program judging section
63. In the case in which the CM utilizes the shop information, the
message replying section 66 searches the shop information storage
section 65 for a shop having latitude/longitude information that is
most similar to the latitude/longitude information received from
the message analyzing section 62. Then, the message replying
section 66 transmits information of the searched shop as the reply
message to the mail address of message sender received from the
message analyzing section 62.
[0133] Note that the above searching may be carried out (i) by
comparing the positional information (longitude/latitude
information) included in the message and the positional information
stored in the shop information storage section 65, so as to select
a shop which locates closest to the positional information included
in the message, or (ii) by further using road information, so as to
select a shop so that a travel distance between the shop and the
positional information included in the message is the shortest.
[0134] FIG. 7 shows one example of the sub-content D12. Note that
the sub-content D12 in FIG. 7 is written in XML (extensible Markup
Language), however the sub-content D12 can be written in any
description format, such as HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language),
XHTML (extensible Hyper Text Markup Language) or SMIL (Synchronized
Multimedia Integration Language), or a combination thereof.
Moreover, the example shown in FIG. 7 is simplified for an
explanation of the present invention.
[0135] In the present embodiment, the layout designating
information D16 is written between a <layout> tag and a
</layout> tag. According to the example shown in FIG. 7, (i)
an upper region of height 180 pixels, (ii) a lower region of height
140 pixels, and (iii) an entire region are designated in a screen
of width 240 pixels.times.height 320 pixels (QVGA (Quarter Video
Graphics Array)).
[0136] Moreover, the display content designating information D17 is
written between a <par> tag and a </par> tag. According
to the example shown in FIG. 7, display content designating
information D17a of the main screen image and display content
designating information D17b of the search screen image are
included.
[0137] In the main screen image, a video based upon the AV data is
designated in the upper region of height 180 pixels, and a content
based upon an HTML document "main.html" is displayed in the lower
region of height 140 pixels. FIG. 9(a) shows one example of the
main screen image displayed based upon the display content
designating information D17a of the main screen image. In the main
screen image of FIG. 9(a), the content (video) of the AV data is
displayed in the upper region, and a "shop-search" button for
switching to the search screen image is displayed in the lower
region.
[0138] Meanwhile, in the search screen image, the content of an
HTML document "search.html" is displayed entirely. FIG. 8 shows one
example of the HTML document "search.html", and FIG. 9(b) shows one
example of the main screen image displayed based upon the display
content designating information D17b of the search screen image. As
shown in FIG. 9(b), the content of a shop search service, an "OK"
button for instructing the search, and a "TV screen image" button
for switching to the main screen image are displayed in the search
screen image.
[0139] Note that the HTML documents "main.html" and "search.html"
are included in the sub-content D12. These HTML documents can be
easily created by a person with ordinary skill in the art by
reference to FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b), and examples of the HTML
documents are omitted in the present application.
[0140] In FIG. 7, the message destination information D14 is
written inside a <message> tag, and the message structure
information D15 is written between the <message> tag and a
</message> tag. In the present embodiment, information
between the <message> tag and the </message> tag is a
model form of a message.
[0141] In the example shown in FIG. 7, the e-mail address of the AV
content related service providing device 15 is written inside the
<message> tag as the message destination information D14.
Moreover, a <channel> tag, a </channel> tag, a
<change> tag, a </change> tag, a <gps> tag, a
</gps> tag, an <email> tag, and an </email> tag
are written between <message> tag and </message> tag.
Note that information are written inside/between respective tags
when creating a message. Moreover, these tags become the data
identifying information for identifying the type of information
(data).
[0142] Moreover, the channel information indicating a channel of a
TV program is written between the <channel> tag and the
</channel> tag, and the switched time information indicating
time of switching of the screen image to the search screen image is
written between the <change> tag and the </change> tag.
The channel information and the switched time information becomes
the AV data identifying information D18.
[0143] Further, the latitude/longitude information indicating the
current position of the mobile phone terminal 14 is written between
the <gps> tag and the </gps> tag, and the e-mail
address is written between the <email> tag and the
</email> tag as message sender information.
[0144] Note that as described above, in the case in which the
sub-content whose message destination is not specified is stored in
the sub-content storage section 21 of the AV content creating
device 11, the message destination information D14 is <message
sendto="[address]">. Then, the AV content creating device 22
incorporates the message destination into the sub-content whose
message destination is not specified. Thus, the sub-content D12
shown in FIG. 7 is obtained.
[0145] FIG. 11 shows a structure of a message created by the
message creating section 55 of the mobile phone terminal 14, and
one example of the message. As shown in FIG. 11, the channel
information is written between the <channel> tag and the
</channel> tag and the switched time information is written
between the <change> tag and the </change> tag, as AV
content specifying data (AV data identifying information) D18.
Moreover, the latitude/longitude information is written between the
<gps> tag and the </gps> tag as the input content.
Further, the message sender information is written between the
<email> tag and the </email> tag as the personal
information of a terminal user.
[0146] FIG. 12 shows processing operations carried out by the
mobile phone terminal 14. As shown in FIG. 12, first, the AV
content receiving section 44 receives the AV content (S20), and
then the control section 40 reproduces the AV data included in the
AV content (S21).
[0147] Next, the control section 40 judges whether or not the user
has requested the switching of the screen image (S22). In the case
in which the switching of the screen image is not requested (NO in
S22), the process returns to Step S21 to repeat the above
operations. In the case in which the switching of the screen image
is requested (YES in S22), the control section 40 memorizes the
time of switching of the screen image (S23), displays the search
image screen of the sub-content (S24), and accepts user's input(s)
(S25).
[0148] Next, the control section 40 judges whether or not the user
has requested the switching of the screen image (S26). In the case
in which the switching of the screen image is not requested (NO in
S26), the process returns to Step S21 to repeat the above
operations. In the case in which the switching of the screen image
is requested (YES in S26), the control section 40 judges whether
the user has requested message transmission (S26a).
[0149] In the case in which the message transmission is not
requested (NO in S26a), the process returns to Step S25 to repeat
the above operations. In the case in which the message transmission
is requested (YES in S26a), the control section 40 incorporates the
user's input into the model form of the message (S27) and also
incorporates the terminal setting information and the
latitude/longitude information (S28), so as to create a message.
Then, the control section 40 transmits the created message (S29).
After that, the process returns to Step S21 to repeat the above
operations.
[0150] FIG. 43 shows processing operations carried out by the AV
content related service providing device 15. Before carrying out
the processing operations shown in FIG. 43, it is necessary that,
in the AV content related service providing device 15, (i) the
broadcasting program information receiving section 60 receive in
advance the broadcasting program information from the AV content
combining/transmitting device 12 and (ii) the broadcasting program
information storage section 67 store the received broadcasting
program information.
[0151] As shown in FIG. 43, first, the message receiving section 61
receives the message, created by the mobile phone terminal 14,
through the communication network 16 (T20), and then the message
analyzing section 62 analyzes the message to acquire the channel
information and the screen image switched time information (T21).
Next, the broadcasting program information judging section 63
specifies a CM in accordance with the channel information, the
screen image switched time information, and the broadcasting
program information stored in the broadcasting program information
storage 67 (T22). Next, the input content storage section 64 stores
the input content, such as the channel information and screen image
switched time information acquired by the message analyzing section
62, in the database corresponding to the CM specified by the
broadcasting program information judging section 63 (T23).
[0152] Next, the message replying section 66 creates the reply
message corresponding to the CM specified by the broadcasting
program judging section 63 (T24), and then transmits the created
reply message through the communication network 16 to the mobile
phone terminal 14 that is the sender of the message (T25). For
example, in the case of the convenience store "NINE FIVE", as
above, the shop information is searched for, and then the result is
transmitted as the reply message. After that, the processing
operations in the AV content related service providing device 15
are terminated.
Embodiment 2
[0153] The following explains another embodiment of the present
invention in reference to FIGS. 14 to 24. FIG. 14 shows a schematic
arrangement of an interactive service system of the present
embodiment. An interactive service system 70 provides a service
which allows a user to answer a questionnaire (enquete) while
watching a TV program, so as to take part in a prize competition.
Note that the same reference numerals are used for the members
having the same functions as the members used in Embodiment 1 and
for the same processing operations as the processing operations
explained in Embodiment 1, and further explanations thereof are
omitted.
[0154] As shown in FIG. 14, the interactive service system 70 is
arranged so that an AV content creating/transmitting device
(multimedia content transmitting device, multimedia content
creating device) 72, a plurality of AV content reproducing devices
(multimedia content reproducing device, message transmitting
device) (74, 77), an AV content related service providing device
(message receiving device) 75 are communicably connected with each
other through the communication network 16. Moreover, the AV
content reproducing device 74 has a function of receiving AV
content from the AV content creating/transmitting device 72 through
the relay station 13 to reproduce the AV content.
[0155] Note that the AV content creating/transmitting device 72 is
used in the present embodiment instead of the AV content creating
device 11 and the AV content combining/transmitting device 12 shown
in FIG. 1. Moreover, in the present embodiment, a broadcasting
company owns the AV content creating/transmitting device 72, the AV
content related service providing device 75, and the relay station
13, and a viewer owns the AV content reproducing device 74 (77).
Moreover, in FIG. 14, the AV content reproducing device 74 for
receiving the AV content from the broadcasting company and
reproducing the AV content is a TV broadcasting receiver.
[0156] The AV content creating/transmitting device 72 creates the
AV content including the broadcasting program-use AV data and the
sub-content, and broadcasts the created AV content in a
predetermined period of time through the relay station 13.
[0157] In the present embodiment, the AV data is streaming data,
that is, the AV data received from the broadcasting company is
reproduced in real time. Moreover, the sub-content includes (i)
layout designating data for designating the display layout of the
screen image, (ii) questionnaire data including the content of the
questionnaire, (iii) destination data indicating a structure and
destination of a message in the case in which an answer to the
questionnaire is transmitted as the message, and (iv) data for
specifying the AV data.
[0158] Therefore, after the AV content reproducing device 74
receives the AV content, the AV content reproducing device 74
displays a video of the TV program based upon the AV data and the
content of the questionnaire based upon the questionnaire data in
accordance with the designated display layout.
[0159] At this point, the viewer (the user of the AV content
reproducing device 74) inputs an answer to the questionnaire, and
then presses a submit button on the screen image. Thus, the AV
content reproducing device 74 creates the message in accordance
with data indicating the structure of the message. The message
includes: information inputted by the user; the personal
information (for example, an address, a name, etc.) set up in
advance in the AV content reproducing device 74; and a broadcasting
program ID and scene ID which are information for specifying a
certain scene in a TV program. Then, the AV content reproducing
device 74 transmits the created message in accordance with data
indicating the destination (the AV content related service
providing device 75 in the example shown in FIG. 14) of the
message.
[0160] With this, the broadcasting company having the AV content
creating/transmitting device 72 and the AV content related service
providing device 75 can collect the answer to the questionnaire
about the TV program during or just after the broadcasting of the
TV program.
[0161] Moreover, the sub-content of the AV content created by the
AV content creating/transmitting device 72 includes the destination
data indicating that the destination is the AV content related
service providing device 75. Therefore, the message from the AV
content reproducing device 74 can be received by a device desired
by the broadcasting company. As a result, the broadcasting company
can directly collect feedbacks from the viewer about the
broadcasting program, and directly provide to the viewer various
services based upon the content of the message.
[0162] Moreover, because the user of the AV content reproducing
device 74 needs not input the destination of the message, it is
possible to cut out the need of input and prevent missending the
message due to an inputting error.
[0163] Moreover, in the interactive service system 70 of the
present embodiment, the AV content reproducing device 74 can
transmit the sub-content in the AV content to an AV content
reproducing device 77 through the communication network 16. As
described above, the sub-content includes data (broadcasting
program ID) for specifying the AV data.
[0164] Therefore, the AV content reproducing device which has
received the sub-content can reproduce only the sub-content.
Moreover, in the case in which the AV content reproducing device 77
has a function of receiving the AV data to reproduce the AV data,
the AV content reproducing device 77 can reproduce the AV data in
accordance with the sub-content. Note that in the example shown in
FIG. 14, the AV content reproducing device 77 is a mobile phone
terminal.
[0165] The following explains in detail respective members in the
interactive service system 70 of the present embodiment.
[0166] FIG. 15 shows a schematic arrangement of the AV content
creating/transmitting device 72. As described above, the AV content
creating device 72 creates the AV content including (i) the
broadcasting program-use AV data to be reproduced as a video and
audio of a TV program and (ii) the sub-content attached to the
broadcasting program-use AV data. Then, the AV content
creating/transmitting device 72 broadcasts the created AV content
in a predetermined period of time through the relay station 13. As
shown in FIG. 15, the AV content creating/transmitting device 72 is
so arranged as to include an AV data storage section 80, a
sub-content storage section 81, a broadcasting program/scene ID
setting section 82, an AV content creating section (creating means)
83, a timer section 84, an AV content transmitting section
(multimedia content transmitting means) 85, and an ID transmitting
section (content identifying information transmitting means)
86.
[0167] The AV data storage section 80 stores a set of or a
plurality of sets of broadcasting program-use AV data created in
advance by the broadcasting company. The sub-content storage
section 81 stores various sub-content attached to the broadcasting
program-use AV data, the sub-content being created in advance by
the broadcasting company. The AV data storage section 80 and the
sub-content storage section 81 include a memory device, such as a
HDD (Hard Disc Drive). Note that details about the sub-content are
described later.
[0168] The broadcasting program/scene ID setting section 82 sets up
the broadcasting program ID for specifying a broadcasting program
and the scene ID for specifying a scene in the broadcasting
program. The broadcasting program/scene ID setting section 82
transmits the set up broadcasting program ID and scene ID to the AV
content creating section 83 and the ID transmitting section 86. The
ID transmitting section 86 transmits the broadcasting program ID
and scene ID, received from the broadcasting program/scene ID
setting section 82, to the AV content related service providing
device 75.
[0169] FIG. 18 shows one example of the broadcasting program IDs
and scene IDs. Specifically, FIG. 18 shows broadcasting program
titles and broadcasting program IDs of the broadcasting programs
broadcasted on three different channels in a certain period of time
(from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.). FIG. 18 also shows scene names and scene
IDs of scenes broadcasted in a certain broadcasting program. In the
example shown in FIG. 18, the broadcasting program ID is shown by a
combination of year, month, day, and an abbreviation of a
broadcasting program title. Meanwhile, the scene ID is shown by an
abbreviation of the scene name.
[0170] Note that there is a possibility that the broadcasting
program ID is identical to a broadcasting program ID of the other
channel. In such a case, however, the destination of the message to
the broadcasting program of the other channel is a different
broadcasting company, so that it is considered that this case is
less likely to affect providing of the interactive service.
[0171] In FIG. 15, the AV content creating section 83 retrieves
desired broadcasting program-use AV data from the AV data storage
section 80, and also retrieves sub-content corresponding to the
broadcasting program-use AV data from the sub-content storage
section 81, so as to create the AV content including the
broadcasting program-use AV data and the sub-content. Moreover, the
AV content creating section 83 add to the sub-content of the AV
content the broadcasting program ID and scene ID received from the
broadcasting program/scene ID setting section 82. The AV content
creating section 83 transmits the created AV content to the AV
content transmitting section 85. The broadcasting program/scene ID
setting section 82 and the AV content creating section 83 are
realized by causing a CPU to execute a program stored in a memory
device, such as a RAM, a flash memory, or the like.
[0172] The timer section 84 measures time. The timer section 84
transmits time information of measured time to the AV content
transmitting section 85. The AV content transmitting section 85
transmits the AV content, received from the AV content creating
section 83, to the relay station 13 in accordance with the time
information received from the timer section 84. Thus, the AV
content is broadcasted from the relay station 13.
[0173] FIG. 16 shows a schematic arrangement of the AV content
reproducing device 74 (77). The AV content reproducing device 74
(77) of the present embodiment is identical to the mobile phone
terminal 14 shown in FIG. 4 except that (i) detailed members in a
control section 90 are different, (ii) the positional information
acquiring section 46 is omitted, and (iii) an AV content
accumulating section 91 is added. Note that the same reference
numerals are used for the members having the same functions as the
members used in the above embodiments, and further explanations
thereof are omitted.
[0174] The AV content accumulating section 91 accumulates the AV
content received from the AV content creating/transmitting device
72. The AV content accumulating section 91 includes a
large-capacity memory device, such as a HDD, a DVD (Digital
Versatile Disk) drive, or the like.
[0175] The following explains details about the control section 90.
The control section 90 of the present invention is identical to the
control section 40 of the mobile phone terminal 14 shown in FIG. 4
except that (i) the AV content analyzing section (sub-content
acquiring means, content acquiring means) 92 is arranged
differently, (ii) the reply message acquiring section 56 is
omitted, and (iii) a sub-content forwarding section (sub-content
transmitting means) 93 and a sub-content acquiring section
(sub-content acquiring means) 94 are added. Note that the same
reference numerals are used for the members having the same
functions as the members used in the above embodiments, and further
explanations thereof are omitted.
[0176] The AV content analyzing section 92 analyzes the AV content
acquired from the AV content creating/transmitting device 72
through the relay station 13 and the AV content receiving section
44. Specifically, the AV content analyzing section 92 identifies
the AV data from the acquired AV content to transmit the AV data to
the reproducing section 54. Moreover, the AV content analyzing
section 92 identifies the sub-content from the acquired AV content,
analyzes the sub-content, and gives various instructions to the
browser section 51, the layout instructing section 52, and the
timing control section 53 in accordance with an analysis result of
the sub-content.
[0177] Moreover, the AV content analyzing section 92 transmits the
identified sub-content to the sub-content forwarding section 93.
Moreover, the AV content analyzing section 92 acquires the
sub-content from the sub-content acquiring section 94 and analyzes
the sub-content, so as to find out whether or not the AV data
designated in the sub-content is available, specifically, whether
or not the AV data is accumulated in the AV content accumulating
section 91. In the case in which the AV data is accumulated in the
AV content accumulating section 91, the AV content analyzing
section 92 reads out the AV data from the AV content accumulating
section 91, and then transmits the AV data to the reproducing
section 54 as with the AV content acquired from the AV content
creating/transmitting device 72. In addition the AV content
analyzing section 92 gives various instructions to the browser
section 51, the layout instructing section 52, and the timing
control section 53 in accordance with an analysis result of the
sub-content.
[0178] The sub-content forwarding section 93 transmits the
sub-content, received from the AV content analyzing section 92, to
a different AV content reproducing device through the communication
section 45 and the communication network 16. Moreover, the
sub-content acquiring section 94 acquires the sub-content from a
different AV content reproducing device through the communication
network 16 and the communication section 45. The sub-content
acquiring section 94 transmits the acquired sub-content to the AV
content analyzing section 92.
[0179] FIG. 17 shows a schematic arrangement of the AV content
related service providing device 75. The AV content related service
providing device 75 of the present embodiment is identical to the
AV content related service providing device 16 shown in FIG. 5
except that (i) an ID receiving section (acquiring means) 95 is
provided instead of the broadcasting program information receiving
section 60 and the broadcasting program information judging section
63, (ii) a message analyzing section (acquiring means) 96 and an
input content storage section (storage means) 97 are different from
the message analyzing section 62 and the input content storage
section 64, respectively, and (iii) the shop information storage
section 65 and the message reply section 66 are omitted. Note that
the same reference numerals are used for the members having the
same functions as the members used in the above embodiments, and
further explanations thereof are omitted.
[0180] The ID receiving section 95 receives the broadcasting
program ID and scene ID created by the AV content
creating/transmitting device 72. The ID receiving section 95 stores
the received broadcasting program ID and scene ID in the input
content storage section 97.
[0181] The message analyzing section 96 analyzes the message
received from the message receiving section 61. The message
analyzing section 96 transmits to the input content storage section
97 various information included in the message. Specifically, the
message analyzing section 96 transmits to the input content storage
section 97 the broadcasting program ID, the scene ID, the input
information from the viewer, and the terminal setting
information.
[0182] The input content storage section 97 stores the broadcasting
program ID and scene ID received from the ID receiving section 95
and the various information received from the message analyzing
section 96. With this, the broadcasting company can find out (i)
for which scene the message (questionnaire) received from the AV
content reproducing device 74 is created, and (ii) what time the
scene is broadcasted.
[0183] FIG. 19 is one example of sub-content D22, and FIGS. 21(a)
and 21(b) are display screen images displayed based upon the
sub-content D22. Note that the data structure of the sub-content
D22 is similar to that of the sub-content D12 shown in FIG. 6, and
further explanations thereof are omitted. In addition, as with the
sub-content D12 shown in FIG. 7, the sub-content D22 shown in FIG.
19 is written in XML, however the sub-content D22 can be written in
any description format, such as HTML, XHTML or SMIL, or a
combination thereof. Moreover, the example shown in FIG. 19 is
simplified for an explanation of the present invention.
[0184] In the present embodiment, layout designating information
D23 is written between a <layout> tag and a </layout>
tag. According to examples shown in FIGS. 19, 21(a), and 21(b), a
screen of width 640 pixels.times.height 480 pixels (VGA (Video
Graphics Array)) is divided into a large upper region of width 580
pixels.times.height 435 pixels and a small lower region of width
640 pixels.times.height 45 pixels.
[0185] Further, a screen of width 640 pixels.times.height 480
pixels is divided into an upper region of height 240 pixels and a
lower region of height 240 pixels. The upper region is further
divided into an upper left region of width 320 pixels on the left
side of the screen and an upper right region of width 320 pixels on
the right side of the screen. The upper right region is further
divided into an upper right top region of height 140 pixels and an
upper right bottom region of height 100 pixels. The layout
designating information D23 designates the upper left region, the
upper right top region, the upper right bottom region, and the
lower region.
[0186] Moreover, first display content designating information D27a
is written between a first <par> tag and a first </par>
tag. According to the examples shown in FIGS. 19 and 21(a), a video
based upon the AV data is displayed in the large upper region, and
the content of an HTML document "onepoint.html" is displayed in the
small lower region. Note that 60 seconds is designated inside the
first <par> tag as a time for displaying (dur="60 s").
[0187] Moreover, second display content designating information
D27b is written between a second <par> tag and a second
</par> tag. A display based upon the second display content
designating information D27b is carried out after the display (60
seconds) based upon the first display content designating
information D27a is carried out. According to the examples shown in
FIGS. 19 and 21(b), a video based upon the AV data is displayed in
the upper left region, the content of an HTML document
"summary.html" is displayed in the upper right top region, the
content of an HTML document "uranai.html" is displayed in the upper
right bottom region, and the content of an HTML document
"enquete.html" is displayed in the lower region.
[0188] Note that the HTML documents "summary.html" and
"enquete.html" are included in the sub-content D22. However, only
an URL of the HTML document "uranai.html" is written here. On this
account, the AV content reproducing device 74 needs to acquire the
HTML document "uranai.html" from outside through the communication
network 16.
[0189] FIG. 20 shows one example of the HTML document
"enquete.html". As shown in FIG. 20, the content of the
questionnaire, an operation carried out when a "SUBMIT" button is
selected, and an operation carried out when a "TELL FRIENDS" button
is selected are written in the HTML document "enquete.html" When
the "SUBMIT" button is selected, a message is created. Meanwhile,
when the "TELL FRIENDS" button is selected, sub-content is
forwarded.
[0190] In FIG. 19, message destination information D24 is written
inside a <message> tag, and message structure information D25
is written between the <message> tag and a </message>
tag. In the present embodiment, information between the
<message> tag and the </message> tag is a model form of
a message.
[0191] In the example shown in FIG. 19, an e-mail address of the AV
content related service providing device 75 is written inside the
<message> tag as the message destination information D24.
Moreover, a <program> tag, a </program> tag, a
<scene> tag, a </scene> tag, <input> tags, a
<name> tag, a </name> tag, an <address> tag, an
</address> tag, a <tvid> tag, and a </tvid> tag
are written between the <message> tag and the
</message> tag.
[0192] The broadcasting program ID for specifying a TV program is
written between the <program> tag and the </program>
tag, and the scene ID for specifying a scene is written between the
<scene> tag and the </scene> tag. These tags are
written in advance in the sub-content D22.
[0193] In addition, the answers inputted by the viewer are written
inside the <input> tags, the name of the viewer is written
between the <name> tag and the </name> tag, the address
of the viewer is written between the <address> tag and the
</address> tag, and a terminal ID for specifying the terminal
(the AV content reproducing device 74 (77)) of the viewer is
written between the <tvid> tag and the </tvid> tag.
Note that the information inside the <input> tags are written
by the viewer answering to the questionnaire and selecting the
"SUBMIT" button. In addition, the information between the
<name> tag and the </name> tag, the <address> tag
and the </address> tag, and the <tvid> tag and the
</tvid> tag are written when creating the message.
[0194] FIG. 22 shows a structure of a message created by the
message creating section 55 of the AV content reproducing device 74
and one example of the message. As shown in FIG. 22, the
broadcasting program ID is written between the <program> tag
and the </program> tag and the scene ID is written between
the <scene> tag and the </scene> tag, as AV content
specifying data D28. Moreover, the answers to the questionnaire are
written inside the <input> tags as the input content.
Further, the name of the viewer is written between the <name>
tag and the </name> tag as the personal information of the
terminal user, and the address of the viewer is written between the
<address> tag and the </address> tag. Then, the
terminal ID is written between the <tvid> tag and the
</tvid> tag.
[0195] FIG. 23 shows processing operations carried out by the AV
content reproducing device 74 (77). As shown in FIG. 23, the
control section judges whether to select a channel to receive a
broadcast or to reproduce the forwarded sub-content (S30).
[0196] In the case of selecting a channel, the content receiving
section 44 receives the AV content (S31), the AV content analyzing
section 92 analyzes the AV content (S32), and a layout and display
of the AV content is carried out based upon an analysis result of
the AV content (S33).
[0197] Next, the control section 90 judges whether or not following
sub-content is received (S34). In the case in which the following
sub-content is received (YES in S34), the process returns to Step
S32 to repeat the above operations. Meanwhile, in the case in which
the following sub-content is not received (NO in S34), a creation
and transmission of a message are carried out (S35). After that,
the process returns to Step S34 to repeat the above operations.
Note that details about the processing operations of creation and
transmission of the message are described later.
[0198] Meanwhile, in the case of reproducing the sub-content, the
control section 90 reads the sub-content (S36), searches the AV
content accumulating section 91 for AV data corresponding to the
sub-content (S37), and carries out the layout and display of AV
content including the searched AV data and the sub-content (S38).
Then, the creation and transmission of the message is carried out
(S39), and thereafter the processing operations are completed.
[0199] FIG. 24 shows processing operations (S35, S39) for creating
and transmitting a message. As shown in FIG. 24, first, the control
section 90 accepts user's input(s) (S40). Next, the control section
40 judges whether or not the user has requested message
transmission (S40a).
[0200] In the case in which the message transmission is not
requested (NO in S40a), the process returns to Step 40 to repeat
the above operations. Meanwhile, in the case in which the message
transmission is requested (YES in S40a), the user's input is
incorporated into the model form of the message (S41), the terminal
setting information is also incorporated (S42) to create the
message, and then the created message is transmitted (S43). After
that, the process returns to an original processing routine.
[0201] Note that the AV data corresponding to the sub-content is
retrieved from the AV content accumulating section 91, however it
is also possible to receive from the AV content receiving section
44 the AV data having the broadcasting program ID identical to that
of a currently broadcasted program. In this case, the AV content
reproducing device 74 needs to acquire the broadcasting program ID
and scene ID of the AV data in one way or another. The method for
acquiring the broadcasting program ID and scene ID of the AV data
is exemplified by a method in which the AV content
creating/transmitting device 72 transmits the AV data including the
broadcasting program ID and the scene ID, and a method in which the
broadcasting program ID and the scene ID are transmitted from the
ID transmitting section 86 of the AV content creating/transmitting
device 72 to the AV content reproducing device 77 through the
communication network 16.
[0202] Moreover, the AV content reproducing device 77 reproduces
the sub-content forwarded from the AV content reproducing device 74
in the present embodiment. However, because of the difference in
screen resolution between the AV content reproducing devices 74 and
77, there is a possibility that the AV content reproducing device
77 cannot display the sub-content with a display size specified in
the sub-content. In this case, the AV content reproducing device 77
may reduce the display size while maintaining a horizontal to
vertical ratio so as to display the sub-content, or may display
only a part of the sub-content.
[0203] As described above, the AV data corresponding to the
sub-content is retrieved from the AV content accumulating section
91 in Step S37. However, there may be a case in which the
appropriate AV data cannot be found or the AV data is unavailable
for some reason. In such a case, it is considered that (i) the
display based upon the AV data is not carried out, or (ii) the
display indicating that the AV data is unavailable is carried out
in a region where the AV data should be displayed, and only the
sub-content is displayed.
[0204] Moreover, the broadcasting program ID and the scene ID are
utilized as the AV content specifying data D28, however it is also
possible to utilize part of the video or part of the audio in the
AV content. In the case of utilizing part of the video, a
<screen/> tag which indicates an attachment of part of the
video to the message is utilized in the AV content specifying data
D28 shown in FIG. 19. Moreover, in the case of utilizing part of
the audio, an <audio/> tag which indicates an attachment of
the audio in a predetermined period to the message is utilized in
the AV content specifying data D28.
[0205] Moreover, in the case of utilizing part of the video or part
of the audio, the interactive service system of the present
embodiment may be arranged as follows. That is, in the AV content
creating/transmitting device 72 shown in FIG. 15, the ID
transmitting section 86 acquires the AV content from the AV content
creating section 83 instead of acquiring the broadcasting program
ID and the scene ID from the broadcasting program/scene ID setting
section 82, and then transmits the AV content to the AV content
related service providing device 75.
[0206] Moreover, in the AV content reproducing device 74 shown in
FIG. 16, the reproducing section 54 transmits, to the message
creating section 55, video data of the AV content at a certain time
point or audio data of the AV content in a predetermined time
period starting from a certain time point. The message creating
section 55 attaches the video data or the audio data to the created
message, and transmits to the AV content related service providing
device 75 through the communication section 45 and the
communication network 16.
[0207] Moreover, in the AV content related service providing device
75 shown in FIG. 17, the ID receiving section 95 receives the AV
content from the AV content creating/transmitting device 72, and
transmits the received AV content to the message analyzing section
96. The message analyzing section 96 searches the AV content,
obtained from the ID receiving section 95, by using, as a key, the
video data and audio data attached to the message from the AV
content reproducing device 74, and specifies the broadcasting
program and the scene from the search result. With this, it is
possible to find out (i) for which scene the message received from
the AV content reproducing device 74 is created, and (ii) what time
the scene is broadcasted.
Embodiment 3
[0208] The following explains still another embodiment of the
present invention in reference to FIGS. 25 to 35. FIG. 25 shows a
schematic arrangement of an interactive service system of the
present embodiment. An interactive service system 100 provides a
service which allows a user to answer a quiz of a live quiz show to
take part in a prize competition by using a mobile phone terminal.
Note that the same reference numerals are used for the members
having the same functions as the members used in the above
embodiments and for the same processing operations as the
processing operations explained in the above embodiments, and
further explanations thereof are omitted.
[0209] As shown in FIG. 25, the interactive service system 100 is
arranged so that an AV content creating/transmitting device
(multimedia content transmitting device, multimedia content
creating device) 102 and an AV content related service providing
device (message receiving device) 105 are communicably connected
with each other, and the AV content creating/transmitting device
102 and the AV content related service providing device 105 are
communicably connected with a sub-content reproducing device
(message transmitting device) 107 through the communication network
16. Moreover, an AV data reproducing device (content reproducing
device) 104 has a function of receiving AV data from the AV content
creating/transmitting device 102 through the relay station 13 to
reproduce the AV data.
[0210] In the present embodiment, a broadcasting company owns the
AV content creating/transmitting device 102, the AV content related
service providing device 105, and the relay station 13, and a
viewer owns the AV data reproducing device 104 and the sub-content
reproducing device 107. Moreover, in an example shown in FIG. 25,
the AV data reproducing device 104 which receives the AV data from
the broadcasting company to reproduce the AV data is a TV
broadcasting receiver, and the sub-content reproducing device 107
which receives the sub-content from the broadcasting company to
reproduce the sub-content is a mobile phone terminal.
[0211] Note that the interactive service system of the present
embodiment is widely different from the interactive service system
shown in FIG. 14 in that (i) a path for transmission of the AV data
and a path for transmission of the sub-content attached to the AV
data are provided separately, and (ii) the AV data and the
sub-content are transmitted to the AV data reproducing device 104
and the sub-content reproducing device 107, respectively.
[0212] The AV content creating/transmitting device 102 broadcasts
the AV data in a predetermined period of time though the relay
station 13, and transmits the sub-content at an appropriate time to
the sub-content reproducing device 107 through the communication
network 16.
[0213] The AV data reproducing device 104 has a function of
reproducing AV data as with a conventional TV broadcasting
receiver, however the AV data reproducing device 104 does not have
a function of transmitting a message. Meanwhile, the sub-content
reproducing device 107 has the function of transmitting a message
as with a conventional mobile phone terminal, however the
sub-content reproducing device 107 does not have the function of
reproducing AV data. Moreover, the sub-content reproducing device
107 has a remote control function of utilizing infrared, radiowave,
or the like to remotely control the AV data reproducing device
104.
[0214] In the present embodiment, the AV data is streaming data,
that is, the AV data received from the broadcasting company is
reproduced in real time. Moreover, the sub-content includes (i)
layout designating data for designating the display layout of an
application screen image, (ii) application data including the
content of the application, (iii) destination data indicating a
structure and destination of the message in the case in which the
application is transmitted as a message, and (iv) data for
specifying the AV data.
[0215] Therefore, after the sub-content reproducing device 107
receives the sub-content, the sub-content reproducing device 107
displays the application screen image based upon the sub-content,
and uses the remote control function to instruct the AV data
reproducing device 104 to reproduce the AV data. Thus, the AV data
reproducing device 104 receives the AV data, and then displays a
video of a TV program based upon the received AV data. In this way,
the display based upon the sub-content and the display based upon
the AV data can be carried out by separate devices.
[0216] At this point, the viewer (the user of the AV data
reproducing device 104 and the sub-content reproducing device 107)
inputs the content of the application and selects a submit button
on a screen image, and then the sub-content reproducing device 107
creates a message in accordance with data indicating a structure of
the message. The message includes: information inputted by the
viewer; personal information (for example, a telephone number, etc)
set up in advance in the sub-content reproducing device 107; and a
channel ID and broadcasting time which are information for
specifying a certain scene in a TV program. Then, the sub-content
reproducing device 107 transmits the created message in accordance
with data indicating the destination (the AV content related
service providing device 105 in the example shown in FIG. 25) of
the message.
[0217] Thus, the interactive service can be easily realized by
utilizing the conventional TV broadcasting receiver and the
conventional mobile phone terminal. That is, the viewer can utilize
the interactive service by using the mobile phone terminal (the
sub-content reproducing device 107) while watching the video on the
TV broadcasting receiver (the AV data reproducing device 104).
[0218] Moreover, the sub-content of the AV content created by the
AV content creating/transmitting device 102 includes destination
data indicating that the destination is the AV content related
service providing device 105, so that the message from the
sub-content reproducing device 107 can be received by a device
desired by the broadcasting company. As a result, the broadcasting
company can realize a live audience participation broadcasting
program. Moreover, because the user of the sub-content reproducing
device 107 needs not input the destination of the message, it is
possible to cut out the need of input and prevent missending the
message due to an inputting error.
[0219] The following explains in detail respective members in the
interactive service system 100 of the present embodiment.
[0220] FIG. 26 shows a schematic arrangement of the AV content
creating/transmitting device 102. As described above, the AV
content creating/transmitting device 102 broadcasts the
broadcasting program-use AV data, which is to be reproduced as a
video and audio of a TV program, in a predetermined period of time
though the relay station 13, and transmits the sub-content,
attached to the broadcasting program-use AV data, to the
sub-content reproducing device 107 through the communication
network 16.
[0221] The AV content creating/transmitting device 102 of the
present embodiment is identical to the AV content
creating/transmitting device 72 shown in FIG. 15 except that (i) an
AV data transmitting section 112 is provided instead of the AV
content creating section 83 and the AV content transmitting section
85, (ii) a sub-content transmitting section 110 is newly provided,
(iii) a broadcasting program broadcasting information storage
section 111 is provided instead of the broadcasting program/scene
ID setting section 82, and (iv) a broadcasting program broadcasting
information transmitting section (content identifying information
transmitting means) 113 is provided instead of the ID transmitting
section 86. Note that the same reference numerals are used for the
members having the same functions as the members used in the above
embodiments, and further explanations thereof are omitted.
[0222] The sub-content transmitting section 110 reads out the
sub-content at an appropriate timing from the sub-content storage
section 81 in accordance with the time information received from
the timer section 84, and then transmits the sub-content to the
sub-content reproducing device 107 through the communication
network 16.
[0223] The broadcasting program broadcasting storage section 11
stores a broadcast starting time and broadcast finishing time of
each broadcasting program. The broadcasting program broadcasting
storage section 11 includes a memory device, such as a flash
memory, a HDD, or the like.
[0224] The AV data transmitting section 112 reads out desired
broadcasting program-use AV data from the AV data storage section
80, and then transmits the read out broadcasting program-use AV
data in accordance with broadcasting hours read out from the
broadcasting program broadcasting information storage section 111
and the time information received from the timer section 84. With
this, a predetermined AV data is broadcasted from the relay station
13 at a predetermined time.
[0225] The broadcasting program broadcasting information
transmitting section 113 reads out broadcasting program
broadcasting information from the broadcasting program broadcasting
storage section 111, and then transmits the broadcasting program
broadcasting information to the AV content related service
providing device 105.
[0226] FIG. 27 shows a schematic arrangement of the sub-content
reproducing device 107. The sub-content reproducing device 107 of
the present embodiment is identical to the AV content reproducing
device 74 (77) shown in FIG. 16 except that (i) members in the
control section 115 are different, (ii) the AV content receiving
section 44 and the AV content accumulating section 91 are omitted,
and (iii) an infrared transmitting section 116 is added. Note that
the same reference numerals are used for the members having the
same functions as the members used in the above embodiments, and
further explanations thereof are omitted.
[0227] The infrared transmitting section 116 transmits a remote
control signal to the AV data reproducing device 104 by infrared in
accordance with an instruction given from the control section 115.
Note that it is possible to use radiowave instead of infrared, and
also possible to use wired transmission instead of wireless
transmission.
[0228] The following explains details about the control section
115. The control section 115 of the present embodiment is identical
to the control section 90 of the AV content reproducing device 74
(77) shown in FIG. 16 except that (i) the sub-content acquiring
section (sub-content acquiring means) 117 is arranged differently,
(ii) the timing control section 53, the AV content analyzing
section 92, and the sub-content forwarding section 93 are omitted,
and (iii) an AV data reproduction instructing section (reproduction
instructing information transmitting means) 118 is added. Note that
the same reference numerals are used for the members having the
same functions as the members used in the above embodiments, and
further explanations thereof are omitted.
[0229] The sub-content acquiring section 117 acquires the
sub-content from the AV content creating/transmitting device 102
through the communication network 16 and the communication section
45. Moreover, the sub-content acquiring section 117 analyzes the
sub-content, and then gives various instructions to the browser
section 51 and the layout instructing section 52 in accordance with
an analysis result of the sub-content. Further, the sub-content
acquiring section 117 transmits channel data, included in the
sub-content, to the AV reproduction instructing section 118.
[0230] The AV reproduction instructing section 118 transmits an AV
data reproduction instruction to the AV data reproducing device 104
through the infrared transmitting section 116 in accordance with
the channel data acquired from the sub-content acquiring section
117, the AV data reproduction instruction being for instructing to
reproduce the AV data of a channel indicated by the channel data.
Thus, the AV data reproducing device 104 can output the video and
audio in the channel designated by the sub-content.
[0231] FIG. 28 shows a schematic arrangement of the AV data
reproducing device 104. As shown in FIG. 28, the Av data
reproducing device 104 is so arranged as to include an AV data
receiving section 120, an infrared receiving section 121, and an AV
data reproducing section 122.
[0232] The AV data receiving section 120 receives the AV data from
the AV content creating/transmitting device 102. The AV data
receiving section 120 transmits the received AV data to the AV data
reproducing section 122. The infrared receiving section 121
receives the AV data reproduction instruction from the sub-content
reproducing device 107 by infrared. The infrared receiving section
121 transmits the received AV data reproduction instruction to the
AV data reproducing section 122.
[0233] The AV data reproducing section 122 selects a channel in
accordance with the AV data reproduction instruction acquired from
the sub-content reproducing device 107 through the infrared
receiving section 121, and then acquires AV data of the selected
channel from the AV data receiving section 120 so as to reproduce
the AV data.
[0234] FIG. 29 shows a schematic arrangement of the AV content
related service providing device 105. The AV content related
service providing device 105 of the present embodiment is identical
to the AV content related service providing device 15 shown in FIG.
5 except that the shop information storage section 65 and the
message replying section 66 are omitted. Note that the same
reference numerals are used for the members having the same
functions as the members used in the above embodiments, and further
explanations thereof are omitted.
[0235] FIG. 30 shows one example of sub-content D32. Moreover, FIG.
32 show display screen images displayed based upon the sub-content
D32. Note that the data structure of the sub-content D32 is similar
to that of the sub-content D12 shown in FIG. 6, and further
explanations thereof are omitted. Moreover, the sub-content D32
shown in FIG. 30 is written in XML as with the sub-content D12
shown in FIG. 7. However, the sub-content D32 can be written in any
description format, such as HTML, XHTML or SMIL, or a combination
thereof. Moreover, the example shown in FIG. 30 is simplified for
an explanation of the present invention.
[0236] In the present embodiment, layout designating information
D36 is written between a <layout> tag and a </layout>
tag. According to examples shown in FIGS. 30 and 32, an entire
display region of width 640 pixels.times.height 480 pixels (VGA
(Video Graphics Array)) is designated, and a right region of width
320 pixels is designated.
[0237] Moreover, display content designating information D37 is
written between a <par> tag and a </par> tag. According
to the examples shown in FIGS. 30 and 32, a video based upon the AV
data is displayed on the entire display region of the screen, and
the content of an HTML document "info.html" is displayed in the
right region of the screen, the content being superimposed on the
video. Note that the HTML document "info.html" is included in the
sub-content D32.
[0238] Note that the AV data reproducing device 104 does not have a
function of reproducing sub-content in the present embodiment.
Therefore, the video based upon the AV data is displayed on the
entire display region of the screen in accordance with the display
content designating information D37. Moreover, the sub-content
reproducing device 107 does not have a function of reproducing AV
data. Therefore, a display based upon the HTML document "info.html"
is carried out on the right region (the entire display region of
the mobile phone terminal) of the screen in accordance with the
display content designating information D37.
[0239] FIG. 31 shows one example of the HTML document "info.html".
As shown in FIG. 31, an input request for a password and an
operation in the case of selecting a "SUBMIT" button are written in
the "info.html". In the case of selecting the "SUBMIT" button, a
message is created, and then transmitted to the AV content related
service providing device 105.
[0240] In FIG. 30, message destination information D34 is written
inside a <message> tag, and message structure information D35
is written between the <message> tag and a </message>
tag. In the present embodiment, information between the
<message> tag and the </message> tag is a model form of
a message.
[0241] In the example shown in FIG. 30, an e-mail address of the AV
content related service providing device 105 is written inside the
<message> tag as the message destination information D34.
Moreover, a <channel> tag, a </channel> tag, a
<current> tag, a </current> tag, an <input> tag,
a <name> tag, a </name> tag, a <tel> tag, a
</tel> tag, a <tvid> tag, and a </tvid> tag are
written between the <message> tag and the </message>
tag.
[0242] Note that the <channel> tag and </channel> tag
are similar to the <channel> tag and </channel> tag
shown in FIG. 7, and further explanations thereof are omitted.
Moreover, the <input> tag, the <name> tag, the
</name> tag, the <tvid> tag, and the </tvid> tag
are similar to those shown in FIG. 19, and further explanations
thereof are omitted. Note that information between the
<channel> tag and the </channel> tag is different from
information between the <channel> tag and the
</channel> tag shown in FIG. 7, and is written in advance by
the AV content creating/transmitting device 102.
[0243] Current time information indicating current time is written
between the <current> tag and the </current> tag. A
telephone number of the sub-content reproducing device 107 (mobile
phone terminal) is written between the <tel> tag and the
</tel> tag. Note that the information between the <tel>
tag and the </tel> tag is written when creating a
message.
[0244] FIG. 33 shows a structure of a message created by the
message creating section 55 of the sub-content reproducing device
107, and one example of the message. As shown in FIG. 33, channel
information is written between a <channel> tag and a
</channel> tag as AV content specifying data D38, and current
time information is written between a <current> tag and a
</current> tag. Moreover, a password is written inside an
<input> tag as an input content. Moreover, the name of a
viewer is written between a <name> tag and a </name>
tag as the personal information of a terminal user, and a telephone
number of the viewer is written between a <tel> tag and a
</tel> tag. Then, a terminal ID is written between a
<tvid> tag and a </tvid> tag.
[0245] FIG. 34 shows processing operations carried out by the
sub-content reproducing device 107. As shown in FIG. 34, first, the
control section 115 receives sub-content from the AV content
creating/transmitting device 102 (S50), analyzes the sub-content to
carry out a layout and display of the sub-content (S51), and
transmits an AV data reproduction command (instruction) to the AV
data reproducing device 104 (S52) so that the AV data reproducing
device 104 reproduces the AV data of a channel written in the
sub-content.
[0246] Next, the control section 115 accepts a user's input (S53),
the user's input (password) is incorporated into the model form of
the message (S54), the terminal setting information is also
incorporated (S55) to create the message, and then the created
message is transmitted (S56). After that, the process is
terminated.
[0247] FIG. 35 shows processing operations carried out by the AV
data reproducing device 104. As shown in FIG. 35, first, the AV
data reproducing device 104 stands by until a reception of the AV
data reproduction command given from the sub-content reproducing
device 107 (S60). After the reception of the AV data reproduction
command, the AV data reproducing device 104 receives the AV data
(S61), so as to reproduce the AV data (S62). After the reproduction
is completed, the processing operations are terminated.
Embodiment 4
[0248] The following explains yet another embodiment of the present
invention in reference to FIGS. 36 to 39. FIG. 36 shows a schematic
arrangement of an interactive service system of the present
embodiment. An interactive service system 120 provides a service
which allows a user to obtain information concerning a matter in
which the user is interested when watching a video clip of a drama
by using a mobile phone. Note that the same reference numerals are
used for the members having the same functions as the members used
in the above embodiments and for the same processing operations as
the processing operations explained in the above embodiments, and
further explanations thereof are omitted.
[0249] As shown in FIG. 36, the interactive service system 120 is
arranged so that an AV content creating/transmitting device
(multimedia content transmitting device, multimedia content
creating device) 123, an AV content reproducing device (multimedia
content reproducing device, message transmitting device) 124, and
an AV content related service providing section (message receiving
device) 125 are communicably connected with each other through the
communication network 16. Unlike the above embodiments, the AV
content creating/transmitting device 123 transmits AV content to
the AV content reproducing device 124 through the communication
network 16 in the present embodiment.
[0250] In the present embodiment, a broadcasting program production
company owns the AV content creating/transmitting device 123, and a
viewer owns the AV content reproducing device 124. Moreover, the AV
content reproducing device 124 is a mobile phone terminal in an
example shown in FIG. 36.
[0251] The AV content creating/transmitting device 123 creates AV
content, and then transmits the AV content in response to a request
from the AV content reproducing device 124.
[0252] In the present embodiment, the AV data is the video clip
which is data received from the broadcasting program production
company. Moreover, the sub-content includes (i) layout designating
data for designating the display layout which switches between a
main screen image for displaying a video and a question screen
image, (ii) destination data indicating a structure and destination
of a message transmitted from the AV content reproducing device 124
to the AV content related service providing device 125, and (iii)
data for specifying the AV data.
[0253] In the present embodiment, after the AV content reproducing
device 124 receives the AV content from the AV content
creating/transmitting device 123, the AV content reproducing device
124 displays either the main screen image or the question screen
image in accordance with the designated display layout. Then, the
displayed screen image is switched to another in accordance with a
user's operation.
[0254] Here, in the case in which the viewer (the user of the AV
content reproducing device 124) selects a question button on the
question screen image, the AV content reproducing device 124
creates a message in accordance with data indicating a structure of
the message. The message includes personal information (for
example, an address, a name, etc.) and an e-mail address set in
advance in the AV content reproducing device 124, and information
for specifying a broadcasting program. In the present embodiment,
an identifier (for example, a file name) of the AV data and a time
elapsed after the start of the reproduction are utilized as the
information for specifying the broadcasting program. Then, the AV
content reproducing device 124 selects any one of a plurality of
destinations designated in the sub-content, and then transmits the
message to the selected destination.
[0255] The AV content related service providing device 125
accumulates information in accordance with the message received
from the AV content reproducing device 124.
[0256] Therefore, even in the case in which the AV content is
transmitted through not the relay station 13 but the communication
network 16, it is possible to use the interactive service based
upon the sub-content.
[0257] Moreover, the sub-content of the AV content created by the
AV content creating/transmitting device 123 includes a plurality of
sets of destination data indicating that the destination is the AV
content related service providing device 125, and the message is
transmitted to any one of the destinations in accordance with a
selection made by the user of the AV content reproducing device
124, so that the broadcasting program production company can causes
a desired device to receive the message from the AV content
reproducing device 124. Moreover, the user of the AV content
reproducing device 124 only has to select the destination of the
message, and needs not input the destination of the message.
Therefore, it is possible to cut out the need of input and prevent
missending the message due to an inputting error.
[0258] FIG. 37 shows one example of sub-content D42. Note that
layout designating information D46 and display content designating
information D47a of the main screen image, which information are
included in the sub-content D42, are similar to the layout
designating information D16 and the display content designating
information D17a of the main screen image which information are
shown in FIG. 7, and further explanations thereof are omitted. Note
that the sub-content D42 in FIG. 37 is written in XML, however the
sub-content D42 can be written in any description format, such as
HTML, XHTML or SMIL, or a combination thereof. Moreover, the
example shown in FIG. 37 is simplified for an explanation of the
present invention.
[0259] On the question screen image, the content of an HTML
document "query.html" is displayed entirely. FIG. 38 shows one
example of the HTML document "query.html", and FIG. 39(b) shows one
example of the main screen image displayed based upon display
content designating information D47b of the question screen image.
As shown in FIG. 39(b), on the question screen image, (i) choices
of factors in a scene, (ii) the input of a question, (iii) a
"SUBMIT" button for submitting the question, and (iv) a "RETURN"
button for returning to the main screen image are displayed. In the
present embodiment, the destination of the message changes in
response to the above selection. Note that the HTML document
"query.html" is included in the sub-content D42.
[0260] In FIG. 37, message destination information D44 is written
inside a <message> tag, and message structure information D45
is written between the <message> tag and a </message>
tag. In the present embodiment, information between the
<message> tag and the </message> tag is a model form of
a message. Note that the message destination information D44 is
written in accordance with the above selection when creating the
message.
[0261] In an example shown in FIG. 37, a <video> tag, a
</video> tag, an <elapsed> tag, an </elapsed>
tag, an <email> tag, an </email> tag, and an
<input> tag are written between the <message> tag and
the </message> tag. Note that information are written between
or inside those tags when creating a message, except for between
the <video> tag and the </video> tag.
[0262] The file name that is the identifier of the video clip is
written in advance between the <video> tag and the
</video> tag. Moreover, elapsed time information that is the
time elapsed after the start of the reproduction of the video clip
is written between the <elapsed> tag and the </elapsed>
tag. The file name and the elapsed time information become
information D48 for specifying the AV data.
[0263] Moreover, an e-mail address is written between the
<email> tag and the </email> tag as the message sender
information. The content of the question is written by text data
inside the <input> tag. Note that in the case in which the
question is not inputted, "UNANSWERED" is written inside the
<input> tag.
Embodiment 5
[0264] The following explains still another embodiment of the
present invention. As compared with the interactive service system
10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 13, the AV content related service providing
device in an interactive service system of the present embodiment
can specify the service to be provided in accordance with the
destination of the message. Note that the same reference numerals
are used for the members having the same functions as the members
used in the above embodiments and for the same processing
operations as the processing operations explained in the above
embodiments, and further explanations thereof are omitted.
[0265] In this case, since the AV content related service providing
device 15 can specify the CM (AV content) in accordance with the
destination of the message, it is not necessary to utilize the
broadcasting program information in order to specify the CM.
Therefore, it is possible for the AV content combining/transmitting
device 12 to omit a transmission of the broadcasting program
information with respect to the AV content related service
providing device 15. Therefore, the broadcasting program
information creating section 35 and the broadcasting program
information transmitting section 36 can be omitted from the AV
content combining/transmitting device 12. Moreover, the
broadcasting program information receiving section 60, the
broadcasting program information judging section 63 and the
broadcasting program information storage section 67 can be omitted
from the AV content related service providing device 15 shown in
FIG. 5.
[0266] As a result, the interactive service system of the present
embodiment can be arranged simpler than the interactive service
system shown in FIGS. 1 to 13.
[0267] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments
above, but may be altered within the scope of the claims. An
embodiment based upon a proper combination of technical means
disclosed in different embodiments is encompassed in the technical
scope of the present invention.
[0268] For example, the AV data is used as content included in the
multimedia content in the above embodiments, however it is possible
to use various content, such as image data, video data, audio data,
document data, etc.
[0269] Moreover, the personal information of the user, such as a
name, a telephone number, etc., is transmitted from the AV content
reproducing device directly to the AV data related service
providing device. However, for example, the personal information
can be transmitted in the following manner.
[0270] That is, first, a correspondence of a terminal ID to the
personal information of a viewer is stored in advance in the AV
content creating/transmitting device when making a channel contract
with a broadcasting company. Next, the AV content reproducing
device transmits to the AV content related service providing device
a message in which the personal information is omitted but the
terminal ID is included. Then, the AV content related service
providing device inquires of the AV content creating/transmitting
device about personal information corresponding to the terminal ID
included in the received message, and acquires the personal
information. Thus, the AV content reproducing device can omit the
personal information of the viewer from the message, so that the
security improves.
[0271] Moreover, the present invention can be arranged as
follows.
[0272] That is, an interactive service system of the present
invention is an interactive service system in which (i) a service
provider transmits to a service requestor multimedia content
including content and sub-content attached to the content, and (ii)
the service requestor transmits to the service provider a message
with respect to the multimedia content, the service provider
includes: a multimedia content transmitting device for transmitting
the multimedia content; and a message receiving device for
receiving the message, the service requestor includes: a multimedia
content reproducing device for reproducing the multimedia content
received from the multimedia content transmitting device; and a
message transmitting device for creating the message in accordance
with the sub-content of the multimedia content to transmit the
message, the sub-content of the multimedia content transmitted from
the multimedia content transmitting device includes destination
data which indicates a destination of the message, and the message
transmitting device transmits the message in accordance with the
destination data included in the sub-content.
[0273] According to the above arrangement, the sub-content of the
multimedia content transmitted from the service provider includes
the destination data indicating the destination of the message, and
the service requestor transmits the message in accordance with the
destination data included in the sub-content. With this, the
message can be surely transmitted to a destination desired by the
service provider. Therefore, in addition to a server which provides
the interactive service, the message can be transmitted to a server
of a broadcasting company, a CM production company, or the
like.
[0274] Note that devices of the service provider can be integral
with each other, and devices of the service requestor can also be
integral with each other. Moreover, it is desirable that the
message be transmitted by utilizing an e-mail system or a data
transmission system similar to the e-mail system. In this case, it
is possible to use an existing system, and adding a mail address to
the message is only required. Therefore, it is possible to transmit
the message easily.
[0275] Moreover, the multimedia content transmitting device can
transmit the content and sub-content, included in the multimedia
content, to the content reproducing device through separate
communication paths.
[0276] Moreover, the multimedia content reproducing device can be
divided into a content reproducing device for reproducing the
content of the multimedia content and a sub-content reproducing
device for reproducing the sub-content of the multimedia content.
In this case, the sub-content reproducing device and the message
transmitting device can be integral with each other. Further, the
multimedia content transmitting device can transmit the content and
sub-content, included in the multimedia content, to the content
reproducing device and the sub-content reproducing device through
separate communication paths.
[0277] In the interactive service system of the present invention,
and in the above arrangement, it is preferable that (i) the
sub-content of the multimedia content transmitted from the
multimedia content transmitting device include in advance data
identifying information for identifying a type of data included in
the message and (ii) data included in the message transmitted from
the message transmitting device be caused to correspond to the data
identifying information. In this case, it is possible to specify
the type of data in accordance with the data identifying
information even in the case in which data are arranged disorderly.
Therefore, it is possible to read out a desired type of data.
[0278] In the interactive service system of the present invention,
and in the above arrangement, it is preferable that the message
transmitting device add, to the message, information for specifying
at least one of the message transmitting device and a user of the
message transmitting device. In this case, because it is
unnecessary that the user of the message transmitting device
instruct an addition of the above information to the message, the
user is free from an onerous task.
[0279] Incidentally, it is preferable to add information to the
message, the information for specifying time when the content is
reproduced, such as a case in which the content is streaming data
that is the received data reproduced in real time.
[0280] Here, in the interactive service system of the present
invention, and in the above arrangement, it is preferable that the
multimedia content reproducing device include switching means for
switching between a reproduction of the content and a reproduction
of the sub-content. Further, it is preferable that the message
transmitting device add, to the message, information which causes
the service provider to specify the content. Here, the information
which causes the service provider to specify the content is
exemplified by information relating to time when the switching
means of the multimedia content reproducing device switches from
the reproduction of the content to the reproduction of the
sub-content.
[0281] Moreover, in the interactive service system of the present
invention, and in the above arrangement, it is preferable that (i)
the content be AV data of a broadcasting program of a predetermined
channel and (ii) the message transmitting device add, to the
message, information of the channel and information relating to
time when the broadcasting program is broadcasted.
[0282] Moreover, in the interactive service system of the present
invention, and in the above arrangement, it is preferable that (i)
the content be transmitted in the form of a file and (ii) the
message transmitting device add, to the message, an identifier of
the file and a time elapsed after a start time of a reproduction of
the content.
[0283] Note that a multimedia content transmitting device can
achieves effects similar to the above as long as the multimedia
content transmitting device can be utilized in the interactive
service system. Moreover, a message transmitting device can achieve
effects similar to the above as long as the message transmitting
device can be utilized in the interactive service system.
[0284] Lastly, each block of the AV content creating device 11, the
AV content combining/transmitting device 12, the reproducing
devices 14, 74, 77, 104, 107 and 124, the AV content related
service providing devices 15, 75, 105 and 125, and the AV content
creating/transmitting devices 72, 102 and 123, especially the
control section of the reproducing device, may include a hardware
logic, or may be realized by a software using a CPU as described
below.
[0285] That is, the above device includes: a CPU (central
processing unit) which executes a command of a control program for
realizing each function; a ROM (read only memory) which stores the
control program; a RAM (random access memory) which loads the
control program; a memory device (recording medium) which stores
the control program and various data; and the like. Then, an object
of the present invention can be achieved by supplying a
computer-readable recording medium to the above device and then
causing its computer (CPU, MPU, or the like) to read out and
execute a program code recorded in the recording medium. Note that
the computer-readable recording medium records the program code
(executable format program, intermediate code program, source
program) of the control program of the above device, the control
program being software that realizes the above-described
functions.
[0286] The recording medium is exemplified by (i) a tape, such as a
magnetic tape or a cassette tape, (ii) a disc, such as a magnetic
disc (a floppy.RTM. disc, a hard disc, etc.) or an optical disc (a
CD-ROM, an MO, an MD, a DVD, a CD-R, etc.), (iii) a card, such as
an IC card (including a memory card) or an optical card, (iv) a
semiconductor memory, such as a mask ROM, an EPROM, an EEPROM, a
flash ROM, etc.
[0287] Moreover, by arranging the above device to be connectable
with a communication network, the program code may be supplied
through the communication network. The communication network is not
especially limited, and may be, for example, the Internet, an
intranet, an extranet, a LAN, an ISDN, a VAN, a CATV communication
network, a virtual private network, a telephone network, a mobile
communication network, a satellite communication network, or the
like. Moreover, a transmission medium constituting the
communication network is not especially limited, and may be (i) a
fixed line, such as an IEEE1394, a USB, a power line carrier, a
cable TV circuit, a telephone line or an ADSL, or (ii) a wireless,
such as an infrared (an IrDA, a remote control), a Bluetooth.RTM.,
an 802.11 wireless, an HDR, a mobile phone network, a satellite
circuit or a ground wave digital network. Note that the present
invention can be realized even in the case in which the program
code is realized by an electronic transmission and in the form of a
computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave.
[0288] An interactive service system of the present invention is
preferably applicable to a TV receiver and a mobile phone terminal
as a multimedia content reproducing device and a message
transmitting device, and is also applicable to other information
communication terminals, such as a PDA, a PC, etc.
[0289] An interactive service system of the present invention is an
interactive service system in which (i) a service provider
transmits to a service requester multimedia content including
content and sub-content attached to the content, and (ii) the
service requester transmits to the service provider a message with
respect to the multimedia content, and the sub-content of the
multimedia content includes destination data which indicates a
destination of the message and the message is transmitted in
accordance with the destination data included in the
sub-content.
[0290] According to the above arrangement, the sub-content of the
multimedia content transmitted from the service provider includes
the destination data indicating the destination of the message, and
the service requester transmits the message in accordance with the
destination data included in the sub-content. With this, the
message can be surely transmitted to a destination desired by the
service provider. Therefore, in addition to a server which provides
the interactive service, the message can be transmitted to a server
of a broadcasting company, a CM production company, or the
like.
[0291] Note that various content, such as AV data, image data,
video data, audio data, document data, etc., can be used as the
content included in the multimedia content.
[0292] Moreover, the content and sub-content included in the
multimedia content can be transmitted to the service requestor
through separate communication paths.
[0293] Moreover, the service requestor can separate the content and
sub-content included in the multimedia content to reproduce the
content and the sub-content.
[0294] A multimedia content creating device of the present
invention includes creating means for creating multimedia content
including content and sub-content attached to the content, and the
sub-content includes destination data which indicates a destination
of a message with respect to the multimedia content.
[0295] According to the above arrangement, the sub-content of the
multimedia content includes the destination data which indicates
the destination of the message with respect to the multimedia
content. In the case of creating and transmitting the message at a
reproducing end for reproducing the multimedia content, the message
is transmitted in accordance with the destination data. Therefore,
the message can be transmitted to a destination desired by a user
of the multimedia content creating device.
[0296] Note that the destination data may correspond to the
content. In this case, the destination of the message can be
changed for each content. As a result, it is possible to specify
the content from the destination of the message.
[0297] In the multimedia content creating device of the present
invention, it is preferable that the sub-content further include
structure data which indicates a structure of the message during
creating the message at a reproducing end for reproducing the
multimedia content. In this case, since the structure of the
message is determined in advance, a device which receives the
message can easily process the message.
[0298] Further, it is preferable that the structure data include
data identifying information for identifying a type of data
included in the message. In this case, it is possible to specify
the type of data from the data identifying information even in the
case in which data in the message are arranged disorderly.
Therefore, the device which receives the message can read out a
desired type of data.
[0299] The multimedia content creating device of the present
invention may further include multimedia content transmitting means
for outwardly transmitting the multimedia content created by the
creating means. In this case, the multimedia content creating
device can provide the multimedia content to the reproducing end
for reproducing the multimedia content.
[0300] Note that the multimedia content transmitting means can
transmit the content and sub-content included in the multimedia
content, through a common communication path or through separate
communication paths. Moreover, in the case in which there are a
content reproducing device for reproducing the content and a
sub-content reproducing device for reproducing the sub-content at
the reproducing end for reproducing the multimedia content, the
multimedia content transmitting means may transmit the multimedia
content to both devices, or transmit the content to the content
reproducing device and the sub-content to the sub-content
reproducing device.
[0301] Moreover, it is preferable to identify which content the
message is for. On this account, it is preferable to further
include content identifying information transmitting means for
outwardly transmitting content identifying information utilized for
identifying the content. Here, in the case in which the content is
the AV data of a broadcasting program of a predetermined channel,
the content identifying information transmitted from the multimedia
content creating device is exemplified by (i) broadcasting program
information indicating the broadcasting program and time when the
broadcasting program is broadcasted, (ii) broadcasting program
identifying information for identifying the broadcasting program,
and (iii) scene identifying information for identifying a scene in
the broadcasting program. Moreover, the content identifying
information is further exemplified by the content and an identifier
of the file of the content in the case in which the content is
transmitted in the form of the file.
[0302] A message transmitting device of the present invention
includes: creating means for creating a massage with respect to
multimedia content including content and sub-content attached to
the content; transmitting means for outwardly transmitting the
message thus created; and sub-content acquiring means for acquiring
the sub-content of the multimedia content, and the transmitting
means transmits the message to a destination indicated by
destination data included in the sub-content acquired by the
sub-content acquiring means.
[0303] According to the above arrangement, the sub-content of the
multimedia content includes the destination data, and the
transmitting means transmits the message to the destination
indicated by the destination data. Therefore, it is possible to
transmit the message to a destination desired by a providing end
for providing the multimedia content.
[0304] Note that the sub-content acquiring means may receive and
acquire the sub-content, or receive the multimedia content and
acquire the sub-content. Here, the sub-content may be acquired from
the providing end for providing the multimedia content or from a
device for reproducing the multimedia content.
[0305] Moreover, it is desirable that the message be transmitted by
utilizing an e-mail system or a data transmission system similar to
the e-mail system. In this case, it is possible to use an existing
system, and adding a mail address to the message is only required.
Therefore, it is possible to transmit the message easily.
[0306] In the message transmitting device of the present invention,
it is preferable that the creating means create the message in
accordance with a message structure indicated by structure data
included in the sub-content acquired by the sub-content acquiring
means. In this case, since the message structure is determined in
advance and it is unnecessary for the message transmitting device
to determine the message structure, it is possible to create the
message easily.
[0307] Further, it is preferable that (i) the structure data
include data identifying information for identifying a type of data
included in the message and (ii) the data included in the message
transmitted from the transmitting means be caused to correspond to
the data identifying information. In this case, even in the case in
which the data in the message are arranged disorderly, it is
possible to specify the type of data from the data identifying
information. Therefore, it is unnecessary to rearrange the data in
the message when creating the message.
[0308] Note that the message transmitting device may further
include sub-content reproducing means for reproducing the
sub-content acquired by the sub-content acquiring means. Further,
the message transmitting device may further include: content
acquiring means for acquiring the content of the multimedia
content; and content reproducing means for reproducing the content
acquired by the content acquiring means. Here, the content and the
sub-content may be acquired by receiving the multimedia content, or
by receiving the content and the sub-content through separate
communication paths.
[0309] Moreover, in the case in which the size of the display
screen is small (for example, the display screen of a mobile
phone), it is preferable to further include switching means for
switching between a reproduction of the content by the content
reproducing means and a reproduction of the sub-content by the
sub-content reproducing means. Further, in this case, the creating
means may add, to the message, information relating to time when
the switching means switches from the reproduction of the content
to the reproduction of the sub-content. Here, it is possible to
easily identify the content from the information relating to
time.
[0310] The message transmitting device of the present invention may
further include sub-content transmitting means for outwardly
transmitting the sub-content acquired by the sub-content acquiring
means. In this case, the sub-content can be reproduced by other
device. In the case in which the device has a function of
reproducing the content, the content can be reproduced in
accordance with the sub-content.
[0311] The message transmitting device of the present invention may
further include reproduction instructing information transmitting
means for transmitting reproduction instructing information causing
the content corresponding to the sub-content acquired by the
sub-content acquiring means to be reproduced. In this case, the
content can be reproduced by other device.
[0312] In the message transmitting device of the present invention,
it is preferable that the creating means add, to the message,
information for specifying at least one of the message transmitting
device and a user of the message transmitting device. In this case,
the user of the message transmitting device does not have to
instruct an addition of the above information to the message.
Therefore, the user is free from an onerous task.
[0313] Incidentally, for example, it is preferable to add, to the
message, information for specifying time when the content is
reproduced, such as a case in which the content is streaming data
that is the received data reproduced in real time.
[0314] Here, in the message transmitting device of the present
invention, it is preferable that the creating means add, to the
message, content identifying information utilized for identifying
the content. In this case, it is possible to identify which content
the message is for.
[0315] Here, in the case in which the content is the AV data of a
broadcasting program of a predetermined channel, the content
identifying information added to the message is exemplified by
information of the channel and information relating to time when
the broadcasting program is broadcasted. Moreover, the content
identifying information is further exemplified by (i) part of the
content, (ii) an identifier of the file of the content in the case
in which the content is transmitted in the form of a file, and
(iii) a time elapsed after a start time of a reproduction of the
content. Note that part of the content is exemplified by (i) part
of a video and (ii) an audio in a predetermined period.
[0316] A message receiving device of the present invention
includes: receiving means for receiving a message with respect to
multimedia content including content and sub-content attached to
the content; acquiring means for acquiring content identifying
information utilized for identifying the content; and identifying
means for identifying the content, from the message received by the
receiving means, by utilizing the content identifying
information.
[0317] According to the above arrangement, the identifying means
identifies the content corresponding to the message by utilizing
the content identifying information acquired by the acquiring
means. Therefore, it is possible to carry out a process
corresponding to the content identified by the identifying means in
accordance with the message received by the receiving means.
[0318] Here, the process corresponding to the content is
exemplified by (i) a process of storing part of the message or the
entire message for each content and (ii) a process of providing a
service corresponding to the content to the sender of the
message.
[0319] Note that the identifying means may identify the content by
utilizing the content identifying information included in the
message, or by further utilizing the content identifying
information acquired from a creating end for creating the
multimedia content. Moreover, in the case in which there are
message storage locations for each content, information of the
message storage location indicated by the destination data can be
used as the content identifying information.
[0320] Specifically, in the message receiving device of the present
invention, (i) the content is AV data of a broadcasting program of
a predetermined channel, (ii) the acquiring means acquires, as the
content identifying information, broadcasting program information
indicating the broadcasting program and time when the broadcasting
program is broadcasted; and (iii) the identifying means may
identify the content, from information for identifying the channel
and from information indicating time when the broadcasting program
is viewed, by utilizing the broadcasting program information.
[0321] Moreover, in the message receiving device of the present
invention, (i) the content is AV data of a broadcasting program of
a predetermined channel, (ii) the acquiring means acquires, as the
content identifying information, broadcasting program identifying
information for identifying the broadcasting program and scene
identifying information for identifying a scene in the broadcasting
program, and (iii) the identifying means may identify the content,
from the broadcasting program identifying information and scene
identifying information included in the message, by utilizing the
content identifying information.
[0322] Moreover, in the message receiving device of the present
invention, (i) the content is transmitted in the form of a file,
(ii) the acquiring means acquires the file of the content as the
content identifying information, and (iii) the identifying means
may identify the content, from an identifier of the file of the
content and a time elapsed after a start time of a reproduction of
the content, by utilizing the file of the content, the identifier
and the time being included in the message.
[0323] Moreover, in the message receiving device of the present
invention, the acquiring means acquires the content as the content
identifying information, and the identifying means may identify the
content, from part of the content included in the message-received
by the receiving means, by utilizing the content.
[0324] It is preferable that (i) the message receiving device of
the present invention further include storage means for storing
data included in the message received by the receiving means, (ii)
in the message, the data be caused to correspond to data
identifying information for identifying a type of the data, and
(iii) the storage means store the data in accordance with the data
identifying information. In this case, since the data is stored in
a storage position corresponding to the type of data, it becomes
easy to analyze the data.
[0325] Note that effects similar to the above effects can be
obtained in the case in which, in the interactive service system
arranged as above, (i) the service provider includes: the
multimedia content creating device arranged as above for creating
the multimedia content; and the message receiving device arranged
as above for receiving the message, and (ii) the service requestor
includes: the message transmitting device arranged as above for
creating and transmitting the message in accordance with the
sub-content of the multimedia content.
[0326] A data structure of the sub-content of the present invention
is a data structure of the sub-content attached to the content, and
includes: structure data which indicates a structure of a message
with respect to multimedia content including the content and
sub-content; and destination data which indicates a destination of
the message.
[0327] According to the above arrangement, the sub-content of the
multimedia content includes the destination data which indicates
the destination of the message with respect to the multimedia
content. In the case of creating and transmitting the message by
the reproducing end for reproducing the multimedia content, the
message is transmitted in accordance with the destination data.
Therefore, the message can be transmitted to a destination desired
by the creating end for creating the multimedia content.
[0328] Note that the destination data may correspond to the
content. In this case, the destination of the message can be
changed for each content. As a result, it is possible to specify
the content from the destination of the message.
[0329] Further, it is preferable that the structure data include
data identifying information for identifying a type of data
included in the message. In this case, even in the case in which
data in the message are arranged disorderly, it is possible to
specify the type of data from the data identifying information.
Therefore, it is unnecessary to rearrange the data in the message
when creating the message at a transmitting end for transmitting
the message. Moreover, a receiving end for receiving the message
can read out a desired type of data.
[0330] Moreover, it is preferable that which content the message is
for. On this account, it is preferable that the data structure of
the present invention further include content identifying
information utilized for identifying the content.
[0331] In a method for providing the interactive service by the
interactive service system arranged as above, a method for
controlling an interactive service system in accordance with the
present invention includes the steps of: transmitting the
multimedia content by the multimedia content transmitting device,
the sub-content of the multimedia content including destination
data which indicates a destination of the message; and transmitting
the message by the message transmitting device in accordance with
the destination data included in the sub-content.
[0332] According to the above method, the sub-content of the
multimedia content transmitted from the multimedia content
transmitting device includes the destination data indicating the
destination of the message, and the message transmitting device
transmits the message in accordance with the destination data
included in the sub-content. With this, the message can be surely
transmitted to a device desired by the service provider. Therefore,
in addition to a server which provides the interactive service, the
message can be transmitted to a server of a broadcasting company, a
CM production company, or the like.
[0333] A method of the present invention for controlling a
multimedia content creating device controls the multimedia content
creating device which creates multimedia content including content
and sub-content attached to the content, and the method includes
the step of adding, to the sub-content, destination data indicating
a destination of a message with respect to the multimedia
content.
[0334] According to the above method, the sub-content of the
multimedia content includes the destination data which indicates
the destination of the message with respect to the multimedia
content. In the case of creating and transmitting the message at
the reproducing end for reproducing the multimedia content, the
message is transmitted in accordance with the destination data.
Therefore, the message can be transmitted to a destination desired
by the multimedia content creating device.
[0335] A method of the present invention for controlling a message
transmitting device controls the message transmitting device which
creates a message with respect to multimedia content including
content and sub-content attached to the content, so as to outwardly
transmit the message, and the method includes the steps of:
acquiring the sub-content of the multimedia content; and
transmitting the message to a destination indicated by destination
data included in the acquired sub-content.
[0336] According to the above method, the sub-content of the
multimedia content includes the destination data, and the message
is transmitted to a destination indicated by the destination data.
Therefore, the message can be transmitted to a destination desired
by the providing end for providing the multimedia content.
[0337] A method of the present invention for controlling a message
receiving device controls the message receiving device which
receives a message with respect to multimedia content including
content and sub-content attached to the content, and the method
includes the steps of: acquiring content identifying information
utilized for identifying the content; and identifying the content,
from the received message, by utilizing the content identifying
information.
[0338] According to the above method, the content corresponding to
the message is identified in the identifying step by utilizing the
content identifying information acquired in the acquiring step.
Therefore, it is possible to carry out a process corresponding to
the identified content in accordance with the received message.
[0339] Note that a program for controlling the interactive service
system can cause a computer to execute the steps of the method for
controlling the interactive service system. Moreover, a program for
controlling the content creating device can cause a computer to
execute the steps of the method for controlling the content
creating device. Moreover, a program for controlling the message
transmitting device can cause a computer to execute the steps of
the method for controlling the message transmitting device.
Moreover, a program for controlling the message receiving device
can cause a computer to execute the steps of the method for
controlling the message receiving device.
[0340] Further, by recording the program for controlling the
interactive service system into a computer-readable recording
medium, it is possible to execute the program on an arbitrary
computer. Moreover, by recording the program for controlling the
content creating device into a computer-readable recording medium,
it is possible to execute the program on an arbitrary computer.
Moreover, by recording the program for controlling the message
transmitting device into a computer-readable recording medium, it
is possible to execute the program on an arbitrary computer.
Moreover, by recording the program for controlling the message
receiving device into a computer-readable recording medium, it is
possible to execute the program on an arbitrary computer.
[0341] As above, the sub-content of the multimedia content
transmitted from the service provider includes the destination data
indicating the destination of the message, and the service
requester transmits the message in accordance with the destination
data included in the sub-content. Therefore, the interactive
service system of the present invention can achieve an effect in
which the message can be surely transmitted to the destination
desired by the service provider.
[0342] The embodiments and concrete examples of implementation
discussed in the foregoing detailed explanation serve solely to
illustrate the technical details of the present invention, which
should not be narrowly interpreted within the limits of such
embodiments and concrete examples, but rather may be applied in
many variations within the spirit of the present invention,
provided such variations do not exceed the scope of the patent
claims set forth below.
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